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v\ 


THE 

HISTORIANS   OF    SCOTLAND. 

VOL.   II. 


Edinburgh  :  Printed  by  Thomas  and  Archibald  Constable, 

FOR 
BDMONSTON  AND  DOUGLAS. 

LONDON HAMILTON,  ADAMS,  AND  CO. 

CAMBRIDGE MACMILLAN  AND  CO. 

GLASGOW JAMES  MACLEHOSE. 


THE 


HISTORIANS  OF  SCOTLAND 


VOL.   II. 


of 

Cron^fcil 
of      c 


VOL.  I. 


EDINBURGH 
EDMONSTON    AND    DOUGLAS 

1872. 


BY    ANDROW    OF    WYNTOUN. 


EDITED    BY 


DAVID     LAING. 


IN  THREE  VOLUMES. 
VOL.  I. 


EDINBUEGH 
EDMONSTON   AND   DOUGLAS 

1872. 


TABLE   OF   CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

INTKODUCTOKY  NOTICE,         .  .          ix 

MACPHERSON'S  PREFACE  TO  THE  EDITION  OF 

THE  CRONYKIL,  1795, xvii 

FACSIMILE  OF  MSS.,       ......       to  face  xl 

THE  ORYGYNALE  CRONYKIL  OF  SCOTLAND:— 

THE  FYRST  BUKE, 1 

THE  SECUND  BUKE, 67 

THE  THYRDE  BUKE, 129 

THE  FERD  BUKE, 171 

THE  FYFT  BUKE,    .  269 


INTRODUCTORY   NOTICE. 

1  IN  the  proposed  series  of  the  Early  Historians  of 
Scotland,  the  Metrical  Chronicle  by  the  Prior  of  St. 
Serf's  Inch  in  Lochleven  could  not  be  overlooked.  It 
belongs  to  the  reign  of  King  James  the  First,  having 
been  completed  about  the  year  1426  ;  but  how  long 
the  author  had  been  employed  in  compiling  it  can  only 
be  conjectured.  We  do  not  find  the  Prior's  Chronicle 
mentioned  by  Walter  Bowar,  Abbot  of  Inchcolm,  the 
continuator  of  Fordun  in  his  Scotichronicon,  yet  it 
must,  for  at  least  a  century,  have  been  esteemed  a 
work  of  historical  importance,  as  may  be  inferred  from 
the  numerous  transcripts  of  which  we  find  traces,  or 
which  are  still  extant. 

In  modern  times  Wyntoun's  Chronicle  was  first 
introduced  to  notice  by  Dr.  William  Nicolson,  Bishop 
of  Carlisle,  in  his  Scottish  Historical  Library,  1702. 
It  was  also  described  by  Dr.  George  Mackenzie  in 
Volume  First  of  his  Lives  and  Characters,  1708.  But 
Father  Thomas  Innes,  in  his  Critical  Essay  in  1729, 
having  carefully  examined  a  number  of  MSS.,  was  the 
first  to  point  out  some  of  the  chief  variations,  and 

VOL.  i.  a  2 


x  INTRODUCTORY  NOTICE. 

to  express  the  opinion  that  the  Royal  MS.  was  "  the  most 
entire  and  most  valuable  of  "them  all ; "  he  further  adds, 
"  that  it  appears  to  be  the  last  review  and  edition  (if 
I  may  speak  so)  that  Winton  made  of  his  Chronicle, 
containing  several  corrections,  additions,  and  alterations 
made  in  it  upon  better  information."  A  zealous  anti- 
quary of  that  time,  Captain  Robert  Seton,  in  the  mean- 
while, had  set  himself  most  diligently  to  prepare  the 
entire  work  for  the  press. 

Public  attention  had  already  been  awakened  to  our 
older  historians  and  poets  by  such  publications  as  the 
Chronica  de  Mailros,  by  Bishop  Fell,  in  his  collection 
Rerum  Anglicarum  Scriptorum  Veterum,  torn,  i.,  1684  ; 
of  Joliannis  de  Fordun  Scotorum  Historia,  by  Dr. 
Thomas  Gale,  1691  ;  and  again  in  a  separate  and  more 
perfect  form  by  Thomas  Hearne,  1722  ;  Douglas's  Virgil's 
Mneis  by  Thomas  Ruddimau,  1710;  and,  I  may  add, 
of  Knox's  Historie  of  the  Reformatioun,  in  a  genuine 
form,  by  Matthew  Crawford,  1732.  The  preface  to  Cap- 
tain Seton's  transcript  of  Wyntoun's  Chronicle  is  dated 
at(  Edinburgh,  December  21,  1724.  Having  copied  the 
text  of  the  Edinburgh  (Denmylne)  MS.,  he  afterwards, 
by  a  careful  and  minute  collation  of  one  or  two  other 
MSS.,  added  on  the  margins  numerous  various  read- 
ings. But  w^ant  of  encouragement  or  some  other  cause 
prevented  his  scheme  from  being  realized ;  and  on  his 
death,  in  1731,  his  transcript  was  sold,  when  his 
library  was  dispersed  by  auction.1  At  a  later  period 

1  A  short  notice  of  Captain  Seton   will  be  added  in  Vol.  in.  to  the  de- 
scription of  his  Manuscript. 


INTRODUCTORY  NOTICE.  xi 

this  volume  was  acquired  by  Pinkerton  the  historian,1 
who  announced  in  1786  his  intention  of  publishing  the 
chief  portion  of  the  Chronicle  :  but  some  time  was  still 
to  elapse  before  the  work  became  accessible  in  a  printed 
form. 

At  length,  in  the  year  1795,  THE  ORYGYNALE 
CRONY KIL  OF  SCOTLAND,  by  Wyntoun,  appeared  in 
two  large  and  handsome  volumes,  edited  by  Mr. 
DAVID  MACPHERSON.  It  was  fortunate  that  the  work 
was  undertaken  by  a  person  so  thoroughly  competent 
as  an  Editor.  In  preparing  his  edition  for  the  press, 
Macpherson  had  chiefly  recourse  to  Manuscripts  pre- 
served in  the  British  Museum.  The  text  of  the  Koyal 
MS.,  which  by  general  consent  was  reckoned  as  the  ear- 
liest and  most  perfect  copy  of  the  work,  he  accordingly 
adopted,  and  adhered  to  it,  on  the  whole,  most  faith- 
fully, using  only  some  small  liberties  by  changing  the 
ff's  and  Ws  to  a  single  f  and  I.  It  might  perhaps 
have  been  well  had  he  extended  such  emendations  to 
other  peculiarities  of  that  MS.,  more  especially  by  re- 
jecting the  use  of  the  letters  w  and  w,  also  of  v,  for 
the  usual  forms  of  u,  v,  and  iv ;  as,  according  to  his 
orthography,  such  words  as  swn  (a  son),  siunnys  (sons), 
lywyng  (living),  wertu  (virtue),  wywe  (wife),  vaknyd 
(wakened),  and  vod  (wood),  in  their  ordinary  meaning, 
are  not  at  once  apparent.  His  volumes  were  welcomed 
at  the  time  as  a  valuable  accession  to  Scottish  literature, 

1  Captain  Seton's  MS.  now  belongs  to  myself. 


xii  INTEODUCTOEY  NOTICE. 

and  the  Editor  was  justly  commended  for  the  diligence 
and  learning  he  had  displayed  in  such  a  satisfactory 
manner. 

The  copies  of  these  volumes  in  late  years  had  become 
scarce  and  high  priced,  and  although  the  earlier  portions 
of  the  Chronicle  (beginning  with  the  Creation  of  the 
World),  omitted  by  Macpherson,  have  no  claims  to  his- 
torical importance,  an  edition  of  the  entire  work  had 
long  been  an  object  of  desire.  There  were  also  early 
manuscripts  unknown  to  him  which  required  exam- 
ination and  collation.  To  what  extent  the  Author 
actually  revised  and  enlarged  his  Chronicle  will  after- 
wards have  to  be  considered.  At  present  it  may  be 
noticed  that  the  chief  alterations,  made  by  the  Author, 
are  contained  in  Book  iv.,  Chap.  viii.  p.  212 — 

In  this  Chapiter  yhe  sail  here, 

Qwhen  the  Scottis  beset  be  Peychtis  were ; 

and  Chap.  xix.  p.  237— 

Now  quhen  the  Peychtis  in  Scotlande 
Come,  and  in  it  wes  regnande. 

Instead,  however,  of  pointing  out  these  alterations,  as 
Macpherson  has  done,  among  the  Various  Readings  in 
his  last  volume,  I  have  given  both  texts  on  the  same 
page,  as  the  most  distinct  mode  of  exhibiting  some 
important  variations  in  regard  to  the  history  and  suc- 
cession of  the  Pictish  rule  in  Scotland. 

In  undertaking  this  task,  as  I  had  long  been  satisfied 
by  occasional  examination  and  comparison  with  other 


INTEODUCTOEY  NOTICE.  xiii 

early  MSS.,  that  the  Eoyal  MS.  still  retained  its  pre- 
eminence, it  appeared  to  be  the  easiest  and  safest  mode 
to  follow  Macpherson's  text.  Neither  could  I  discover 
any  good  reason  for  attempting  to  supersede  his  Intro- 
duction, Notes,  and  Glossary,  by  altering  the  form  for 
the  sake  of  apparent  novelty.  I  therefore  prefer  to  let 
these  volumes  appear  as  a  republication  of  Macpher- 
son's edition,  revised  and  enlarged,  wherever  it  seemed 
to  be  required.  To  have  done  otherwise  would  have, 
I  think,  been  an  act  of  injustice  to  his  memory. 

Although  thus  professing  to  be  a  New  Edition,  it  is  by 
no  means  to  be  regarded  as  a  mere  verbal  reprint.  All 
the  suppressed  or  omitted  portions,  forming  nearly  one- 
third  of  the  entire  work,  are  now  published  for  the  first 
time,  from  the  Eoyal  MS.  ;  and  the  text  throughout  has 
been  carefully  revised,  without  adhering  too  slavishly, 
like  Macpherson,  to  the  peculiarities  of  the  original 
transcriber  in  retaining  unnecessary  contractions,  for  in- 
stance "  De"  "  ]?e,"  or  ">at"  for  The,  the  (thee),  or  that. 
Such  a  mode  of  editing  can  serve  no  useful  purpose, 
but  is  rather  calculated  to  render  the  pages  unreadable. 
I  ought  perhaps  to  express  regret  in  not  having  also 
changed  the  letters  w,  v,  u,  to  the  usual  form  of  v, 
u,  and  w.  Obvious  errors  have  been  corrected,  but 
no  liberties  taken  in  altering  the  text ;  and  words 
supplied  from  other  copies  are  enclosed  with  brackets. 
Had  I  been  forming  a  new  text,  I  might  have  pre- 
ferred the  orthography  of  some  other  MSS.  ;  but  there 
prevails  at  present  a  kind  of  pedantic  conceit  in  a 


xiv  INTRODUCTORY  NOTICE. 

literal  adherence  to  the  peculiar  orthography  or  ignor- 
ance of  unknown  transcribers. 

In  order  that  no  unnecessary  delay  should  occur  in 
completing  the  successive  volumes  for  Subscribers  to 
this  series  of  the  Early  Scottish  Historians,  some  matters 
have  for  the  present  been  reserved.  The  Third  and  con 
eluding  Volume  of  Wyntoun's  Chronicle  will  therefore 
contain,  along  with  the  Ninth  and  last  Book  of  the 
Chronicle,  such  additional  notices  of  the  Author  as  may 
be  discovered,  along  with  a  detailed  description  of  all 
the  known  MSS.  of  his  work.  The  Various  Eeadings  fur- 
nished by  a  diligent  collation,  and  Macpherson's  Notes, 
and  Glossary,  will  likewise  be  considerably  enlarged. 

As  all  this  was  a  task  of  no  ordinary  labour,  I  could 
not  personally  have  undertaken  it  within  any  limited 
period.  It  was  fortunate  therefore  that  the  publishers 
were  able  to  secure  the  services  of  Mr.  ANDREW  GILLMAN, 
of  London,  for  the  more  tedious  work  of  transcription  and 
collation ;  and  I  think  I  cannot  pay  him  a  greater  com- 
pliment than  to  say  that  his  application  and  accuracy 
are  not  unworthy  of  David  Macpherson  himself. 

DAVID  LAING. 

EDINBURGH,  November  1872. 


An  exact  facsimile  of  the  Title-page  of  Macpherson's  Edition  is  given 
on  the  page  opposite. 


ORYGYNALE     CRONYKIL 


SCOTLAND, 


ANDROW     OF    WYNTOWN, 


PUIOWR  OF  SANCT  SERPIS  YNCIIE  IN  LOCH  LEVVN. 


NOW    FIRST    PUBLISHED, 
WITH 

NOTES,  A  GLOSSARY,  &c. 

BY 

DAVID    MACPHERSON. 


THE    FIRST   VOLUME. 


LONDON: 

POINTED  BY  T.  BENSLEY; 

AND    SOLD    BY    THOMAS    KGERTON,    WHITEHALL 
AND    WILLIAM    LAING,    EDINBURGH. 

M.DCC.XCV. 


PREFACE 


DAVID  MACPHERSON.     1795. 

THE  earliest  historians  of  a  country  are  undoubtedly  the 
most  valuable,  if,  upon  a  fair  critical  trial  of  their  agreement 
with  the  writers  of  the  neighbouring  countries,  but  more  espe- 
cially with  the  sure  testimony  of  public  records  and  charters 
still  remaining,  they  appear  to  have  made  a  faithful  use  of  the 
works  of  preceding  writers  and  of  other  vouchers  extant  in 
their  times,  most  of  which  being  now  lost,  they,  as  the  earliest 
faithful  copiers  of  them,  are  entitled  to  our  respect  and  grati- 
tude for  furnishing  us  with  the  only  means  of  obtaining  the 
knowledge  of  many  of  the  transactions  of  past  ages.  Hence  it 
evidently  follows,  that  the  truest  and  most  essential  service 
that  can  be  done  to  the  history  of  any  nation,  is  to  lay  before 
the  public  genuine  editions  of  its  most  antient  and  authentic 
historical  monuments,  and  of  the  works  of  those  who  first 
attempted  its  general  history. 

Of  the  few  general  historians  of  Scotland,  JOHN  OF  FORDUN 
has  generally  been  esteemed  the  best,  as  well  as  the  original 
one.  He  certainly  deserves  much  praise  for  his  industry ;  *  and 
we  must  ever  regret  that  he  did  not  live  to  finish  his  work. 

1  Some  notices,  or  conjectures,  concerning  his  labours  in  acquiring  mate- 
rials for  his  work,  are  dispersed  in  the  Preface  to  Hearne's  edition  of  it. 
VOL.  I.  b 


xviii  PEEFACE. 

ANDROW  OF  WYNTOWN,  not  inferior  to  Fordun  in  historic 
merit,  has  also  an  equal  claim  to  the  title  of  an  original  histo- 
rian of  Scotland ;  for,  though  he  survived  Fordun,  it  is  certain 
that  he  never  saw  his  work ;  and  his  Chronicle  has  the  ad- 
vantage not  only  of  being  completed  to  the  period  which  he 
proposed,  but  even  of  being  revised  and  greatly  improved  by 
himself  in  a  second  copy.  It  has  also  the  further  advantage, 
for  such  it  surely  ought  to  be  esteemed,  of  being  written  in  the 
language  of  the  country 

"  Tyl  ilke  mannys  wndyrstandyng ; " 

whereas  the  information  contained  in  all  the  other  histories  of 
Scotland  preceding  the  middle  of  the  seventeenth  century,  if 
we  except  the  brief  chronicle  subjoined  to  some  manuscripts  of 
Wyntown,  and  the  translations  of  Ballenden  and  Eead,  was 
effectually  concealed  from  the  unlearned  part  of  mankind  under 
the  veil  of  a  dead  or  a  foreign  language.1 

In  "Wyntown' s  Chronicle  the  historian  may  find  what  for 
want  of  more  antient  records,  which  have  long  ago  perished, 
we  must  now  consider  as  the  original  accounts  of  many  trans- 
actions, and  also  many  events  related  from  his  own  knowledge 
or  the  reports  of  eye-witnesses.  His  faithful  adherence  to  his 

1  Boyse  and  Buchanan  are  the  only  historians  of  Scotland,  if  they  may 
be  so  called,  whose  works  have  been  translated  ;  and  they  are  the  very  two 
who  ought  to  have  been  consigned  to  the  deepest  obscurity.  Hence  in  a 
great  measure  proceed  the  corrupt  ideas  of  Scottish  history,  which  are  so 
deeply  rooted  in  the  minds  of  many  people.  The  evil  is  greatly  increased  by 
some  teachers  of  Latin  putting  Buchanan's  history  into  the  hands  of  their 
pupils,  because,  forsooth,  his  Latin  style  is  very  fine,  which  is  but  a  wretched 
excuse  for  perverting  the  youthful  mind,  though  they  could  prove  his  latinity 
superior  to  Cicero's. 

So  firmly  established  was  the  custom  of  writing  in  Latin,  that  Sir  David 
Lindsay,  about  a  century  after  Wyntown,  thought  it  necessary  to  apologise 
in  the  beginning  of  his  Monarchy  for  writing  in  his  native  language  by  pro- 
ducing the  examples  of  Moses,  Aristotle,  Plato,  Virgil,  Cicero,  &c.,  who  all 
wrote  in  their  own  languages. 


PEEFACE.  xix 

authorities  appears  from  comparing  his  accounts  with  unques- 
tionable vouchers,  such  as  the  Feeder  a  Anglice,  and  the  existing 
remains  of  the  Register  of  the  Priory  of  St.  Andrews,  that 
venerable  monument  of  antient  Scottish  history  and  antiquities, 
generally  coeval  with  the  facts  recorded  in  it,  whence  he  has 
given  large  extracts,  almost  literally  translated.  All  these  we 
have  hitherto  been  obliged  to  take  at  second  or  third  hand  in 
copies  by  Bower  and  others,  with  such  additions  and  embellish- 
ments as  they  were  pleased  to  make  to  Wyntown's  simple  and 
genuine  narrative.1 

An  ecclesiastical  historian  of  Scotland  can  nowhere  find  so 
good  an  account  of  the  Bishops  of  St.  Andrews,  with  occasional 
notices  concerning  the  other  sees,  as  from  Wyntown,  who  in 
describing  the  churches,  their  buildings,  and  paraphernalia, 
shows  himself  quite  at  home. 

The  compiler  of  a  Scottish  Peerage  may  obtain  from 
Wyntown  more  true  information  concerning  the  antient  noble 
families  of  Scotland  than  is  to  be  found  in  any  work  extant, 
except  the  accurate  and  elaborate  research  made  by  the  late 
Lord  Hailes  in  the  celebrated  Sutherland  case,  wherein  he  has 
repeatedly  had  recourse  to  our  author  for  proofs  of  the  laws  and 
customs  of  succession. 

In  this  view  the  lawyer  will  also  find  the  Chronicle  of 
Wyntown  an  useful  addition  to  his  library,  and  may  consult  it 
with  advantage  when  called  upon  to  adjust  a  disputed  inherit- 
ance in  an  antient  family. 

As  a  specimen  of  the  language  of  Scotland,  a  faithful  and 
correct  edition  of  Wyntown  must  be  an  acquisition  to  the 
philologists  of  every  country  whose  language  is  of  Gothic 
origin,  seeing  that  no  manuscript  of  any  Scottish  work  known 

1  Ruddiman,  in  his  elaborate  notes  on  Buchanan's  history,  has  had  fre- 
quent occasion  to  show  that  his  author,  when  departing  from  Wyntown's 
authority,  generally  departed  from  the  truth. 


xx  PREFACE. 

to  exist  comes  into  any  degree  of  comparison  in  point  of 
antiquity  and  purity  with  the  royal  manuscript  of  Wyntown, 
nor  even  with  the  Cotton  one.  In  Wyntown's  work  we  have 
near  three  hundred  lines  of  Barber,  the  only  Scottish  writer 
prior  to  himself  now  extant,  in  a  more  genuine  state  than  iii 
any  manuscript  or  edition  of  Barber's  own  work  [see  Index,  w. 
Barber]  ;  and,  what  is  infinitely  more  valuable,  he  has  fortu- 
nately preserved  to  us  a  little  elegiac  song  on  the  death  of 
King  Alexander  in.,  which  must  be  near  ninety  years  older 
than  Barber's  work.  This  is  alone  sufficient  with  every  reader 
of  taste  to  stamp  a  very  high  value  on  Wyntown. 

Valuable  and  curious  as  Wyntown's  work  thus  appears  in 
so  many  points  of  view,  how  can  it  be  accounted  for  that  he 
has  been  allowed  to  remain  in  manuscript  for  so  many  centuries, 
eclipsed  and  superseded  by  writers  of  far  inferior  merit,  almost 
forgotten  and  even  unknown  to  many,  whose  business  it  was  to 
have  consulted  him  ? 

For  above  two  centuries  after  the  art  of  printing  was  intro- 
duced in  Scotland,1  the  Scottish  press  produced  scarcely  any 
historic  works,  indeed  not  one  deserving  the  name  of  history. 
The  fury  of  religious  controversy  and  the  rage  of  civil  wars 
deprived  the  generality  of  the  people  of  inclination  as  well  as 
opportunity  to  cultivate  letters  or  the  sciences,  so  that  during 
the  long  continuance  of  this  intellectual  darkness,  while  Eng- 
land was  making  great  additions  to  the  public  stock  of  historic 
knowledge,  the  interests  of  Scottish  literature,  history,  and 
science  were  abandoned  to  perish,  or  consigned  to  the  care  of 
strangers.2  After  the  accession  of  King  James  VI.  to  the  Crown 


1  From  a  patent  of  King  James  iv.  it  appears  that  a  printing-press  was 
first  established  at  Edinburgh  in  1507.     [Life  of  Thomas  Ruddiman  by  Mr. 
Chalmers,  p.  80.] 

2  While  scarcely  any  books  but  those  of  religious  controversy  were  pro- 
duced in  Scotland,  and  the  few  Scottish  historic  or  scientific  works  were 


PEEFACE.  xxi 

of  England,  the  language  in  which  Wyntown  wrote  was  almost 
completely  proscribed  by  Scottish  writers,  and  carefully  avoided 
by  every  person  who  wished  to  be  thought  above  the  vulgar. 
In  such  circumstances  a  work,  of  which  the  language  was 
even  then  partly  obsolete  in  Scotland,  which  cherished  no 
religious  prejudices,  nor  sacrificed  truth  on  the  altars  of  na- 
tional vanity,  was  sure  to  be  neglected ;  and  during  this  time 
it  is  very  probable  that  many  valuable  manuscripts  of  it  have 
perished. 

But  in  the  present  age,  when  the  study  of  history  is  in 
general  estimation,  and  when  the  history  of  Scotland  in  par- 
ticular begins  by  the  abilities  and  exertions  of  some  of  her 
literary  sons  to  be  cleared  of  the  thick  mist  of  fable  under 
which  Hector  Boyse  had  buried  it,  to  be  studied  in  a  rational 
manner,  and  to  engage  the  attention  of  the  learned  in  general ; 
when  even  the  language  of  Scotland  attracts  the  attention  of 
philologists  in  various  countries  as  illustrative  of  their  own,  it 
is  truly  surprising  that  one  of  the  earliest  and  most  authentic 
histories,  and  the  very  earliest  and  purest  specimen  of  the 
language  of  that  country,  has  not  ere  now  been  drawn  forth 

published  at  Paris,  Amsterdam,  £c.,  where  the  nncorrected  errors  of  printers 
and  engravers  were  superadded  to  the  errors  of  the  authors  ;  while  most  of 
the  learned  natives  of  Scotland  chose  to  reside  abroad,  as  if  their  own  country 
were  the  only  one  which  ought  not  to  be  enlightened  by  their  genius  and 
learning,  several  learned  men  in  England  were  with  the  most  laudable  in- 
dustry and  patriotism  employing  their  time  and  their  talents  in  publishing 
those  historic  treasures  which  had  for  ages  lain  dormant  in  churches  and 
libraries.  Nor  was  their  attention  entirely  confined  to  English  history  :  to 
these  friends  of  the  republic  of  letters  Scotland  stands  indebted  for  the  only 
editions  of  the  Chronicles  of  Melros  and  of  Holyroodhouse,  for  the  first  edition 
of  the  Chronicle  of  Mann,  and  for  the  first  and  second  editions  of  Fordun. 
These,  being  all  historical  works  and  written  in  Latin,  may  be  considered  as 
the  common  concern  of  the  literary  world ;  but  even  Douglas's  Virgil  and 
King  James's  Christ-Kirk  on  the  green,  though  written  in  the  dialect  of  Scot- 
land and  not  historical,  were  published  in  England  long  before  a  Scottish 
edition  of  either  of  them  was  thought  of. 


xxii  PREFACE. 

from  the  obscurity  or  invisibility  which  has  so  long  concealed 
it  even  from  the  researches  of  men  of  literature. 

Seeing  the  labour  of  publishing  this  most  valuable  antient 
Scottish  historian  declined  by  all  others,  I  thought  I  could  not 
employ  my  leisure  more  usefully  to  my  country,  or  more  agree- 
ably to  myself,  than  by  laying  before  the  public  a  genuine 
edition  of  "Wyntown.  As  however  unequal  I  may  be  to  the 
task  in  respect  of  talents  and  learning,  an  edition  by  me,  with 
the  care  and  attention  which  I  intended  to  bestow  upon  it, 
must  surely  be  much  better  than  no  edition  at  all. 

With  this  intention  I  applied  to  the  Trustees  of  the  British 
Museum  for  permission  to  transcribe  the  royal  manuscript  of 
Wyntown,  which  was  immediately  granted  with  a  politeness 
and  attention  to  the  interests  of  literature  worthy  of  the 
guardians  of  the  greatest  literary  treasure  in  Britain. 

Wyntown,  like  most  other  historians  of  his  own  and  the 
preceding  ages,  begins  his  work  at  the  creation  ;  and  he  gives  a 
general  history  of  the  world  in  the  first  five  books,  with  very 
little  of  Scottish  or  British  history  till  the  commencement  of 
the  sixth ;  after  which  he  gradually  drops  foreign  affairs,  and 
comes  home  to  the  proper  business  of  his  undertaking.  Exactly 
the  same  was  the  plan  of  Fordun,  whose  numerous  pages,  as 
further  stuffed  with  superfluous  matter  by  his  continuator,  I 
have  often  turned  over  with  great  labour  and  disgust  in  search 
of  some  minute  particle  of  early  Scottish  history,  which  was 
lost  in  the  mass  of  trifling  and  extraneous  matter.  On  these 
occasions  I  could  not  help  wishing  that  the  editor  had  taken 
the  trouble  of  selecting  the  few  sentences,  which  are  useful, 
and  suppressing  the  vast  quantity  of  lumber,  which  loads  the 
work  and  distresses  the  reader. 

In  order  to  save  the  readers  of  Wyntown  the  labour  of 
wandering  through  a  wilderness  of  Asiatic,  Greek  and  Roman 
history,  in  search  of  minute  notices  concerning  Scotland  or 


PREFACE.  xxiii 

Britain,  I  have  carefully  selected  all  that  in  any  respect  con- 
cerns the  British  islands,  whether  true  or  fabulous,  and  have 
suppressed  all  the  foreign  matter  in  the  first  five  books,1  only 
preserving  the  metrical  contents  of  the  chapters,  whereby  the 
reader  will  know  the  nature  of  what  is  withheld,  and  will,  I 
trust,  be  pleased  to  find  that  the  book  is  not  swelled  by  print- 
ing what  would  never  be  read.  This  separation  of  the  useful 
from  the  useless  has  had  the  approbation  of  some  of  the  best 
judges  of  Scottish  history. 

From  the  beginning  of  the  sixth  book  the  work  is  published 
entire  verbatim  et  literatim  to  the  conclusion. 

Of  the  several  manuscripts  of  Wyntown,  it  is  sufficiently 
known  from  Innes,  who  had  examined  many,  [see  his  excellent 
Critical  Essay,  pp.  624,  683,  823,]  that  the  one,  which  belongs  to 
the  Eoyal  library  now  in  the  Museum,  is  greatly  superior  to  all 
others.  It  not  only  has  the  author's  improvements,  but  is  also 
much  purer  in  the  language  than  any  other  copy  that  I  have 
been  able  to  get  any  knowledge  of :  it  is  moreover  the  only  one 
which  is  not  mutilated  by  accident  or  curtailed  by  design ;  and 
the  few  omissions  in  it  are  fully  supplied  from  another  manu- 
script belonging  to  the  Cotton  library. 

From  this  most  valuable  manuscript  I  have  made  my  tran- 
script, which,  from  careful  and  repeated  collation,  I  may  venture 
to  say,  is  exact,  notwithstanding  the  inconveniencies  inseparable 
from  writing  it  at  a  considerable  distance  from  my  own  house, 
and  at  limited  hours.  But  when  I  say  that  my  transcript  is 
exactly  copied  from  the  Eoyal  manuscript,  I  do  not  wish  to  be 
understood,  as  if  I  had  rigidly  adhered  to  errors,  which  are 
evidently  slips  of  the  pen.  While  transcribing,  as  well  as 

1  In  this  I  have  the  examples  of  the  great  editors  Gale  and  Hearne,  the 
former  of  whom  has  suppressed  the  extraneous  part  of  Higden's  Poly- 
chronicon,  and  the  latter  has  passed  over  the  fabulous  part  of  the  British 
history  in  Robert  of  Brunne's  work. 


xxiv  PREFACE. 

while  collating,  I  had  constantly  the  Cotton  and  Harleian 
manuscripts  before  me,  and  carefully  compared  the  whole  ; 
and,  as  it  is  my  earnest  desire  that  the  edition  may  be  more 
perfect  than  any  one  manuscript  taken  singly,  I  have  corrected 
all  obvious  errors  from  these  two,  but  chiefly  from  the  Cotton, 
and,  where  neither  of  them  were  satisfactory,  by  extracts  from 
the  manuscripts  in  the  Advocates'  Library  at  Edinburgh.  There 
are  moreover  a  few  instances  of  obvious  defects,  which  I  have 
been  obliged  to  supply,  and  such  insertions,  however  minute, 
are  constantly  distinguished  by  being  inclosed  in  crochets. 
This  liberty,  however,  I  have  very  seldom  taken,  as  I  have, 
during  the  progress  of  this  work,  as  well  as  on  other  occasions, 
frequently  felt  the  bad  consequences  of  the  very  common  liberty 
taken  by  transcribers  and  editors  in  new -modelling  the  works 
of  their  authors.  I  have  accordingly  let  many  a  Ime  go  to  the 
press  with  defective  or  redundant  measure,  which  a  very  slight 
alteration  might  have  rectified,  had  I  not  determined  to  abstain 
from  all  corrections  not  absolutely  necessaiy  for  restoring  the 
sense  of  my  author  where  evidently  vitiated  by  transcribers, 
and  to  let  him  appear  with  his  own  imperfections  on  his  head, 
rather  than  to  give  the  reader  the  smallest  reason  to  doubt, 
that  what  he  sees  before  him  is  the  genuine  work  of  Wyntown.1 
Wyntown  has  divided  his  work  into  nine  books  of  very 

1  I  have  in  several  instances  corrected  the  Elegiac  Chronicle,  which 
Wyntown  has  incorporated  with  his  work  from  a  collation  of  other  manu- 
scripts wherein  it  is  found.  I  thought  it  the  more  incumbent  on  me  to  do 
this,  as  the  reading  is  monstrously  corrupted  by  the  transcriber,  who,  if  not 
entirely  ignorant  of  the  Latin  language,  was  at  least  utterly  unacquainted 
with  Latin  prosody.  Being  moreover  not  the  work  of  my  author,  I  thought 
myself  more  at  liberty  in  it  ;  and  I  trust  that  I  have  only  restored  his  read- 
ing, and  in  so  doing  given  a  more  correct  copy  of  the  whole  of  the  original 
part  of  this  antient  elegiac  poem  than  has  ever  yet  been  published.  In  doing 
this  I  am  supported  by  the  example  of  that  correct  editor  Ruddiman,  who 
restored  the  true  readings  of  antient  authors,  which  Buchanan  had  transcribed 
in  the  third  book  of  his  history  from  erroneous  editions. 


PREFACE.  xxv 

unequal  length,  the  eighth  alone  containing  more  pages  of  the 
manuscript  than  the  first  four;  and  these  books  are  divided 
into  chapters,  which  being  also  very  unequal,  the  long  ones  are 
subdivided  into  sections  or  portions,  which  the  rubricators  and 
transcribers,  because  they  begin  with  illuminated  letters,  have 
generally  converted  to  chapters.  It  seemed  to  me  the  best  rule 
to  call  only  those  chapters,  which  I  found  ushered  in  by  metri- 
cal titles,1  which  often  run  in  such  words  as  these — 

"  This  Chapiter  sail  yhow  tell,"  &c. 

Now  we  cannot  pretend  to  make  four  or  five  chapters  out  of 
what  the  author  expressly  calls  only  one.  I  have,  however,  as 
nearly  as  possible,  preserved  the  distinction  by  beginning  every 
section  with  an  open  capital  answering  to  the  illuminated  letter 
in  the  Royal  manuscript,  and  setting  a  space  between  it  and 
the  preceding  one,  as  was  usually  done  in  the  antient  magni- 
ficent manuscripts. 

The  faults,  which  may  be  found  in  the  punctuation,  are 
wholly  my  own,  as  the  manuscript  is  entirely  destitute  of  any 
such  distinctions.  The  irregular  grammar  (as  it  appears  to  us) 
and  frequent  inverted  order,  common  in  antient  composition, 
have  in  some  instances  left  me  uncertain,  if  I  have  divided  the 
sentences  according  to  the  author's  meaning ;  but  I  hope  that 
there  are  not  many  instances  of  gross  blunders. 

The  author's  text  is  followed  by  the  Various  Readings,  to 
which  is  prefixed  a  short  notice  explaining  the  method  used  in 
quoting  them. 

The  Notes  are  placed  together  at  the  end  of  the  work  in 

1  I  was  obliged  to  make  an  exception  to  this  rule,  ami  it  is  the  only  one, 
in  the  very  first  chapter  of  the  work,  which  the  rubricator  had  neglected. 
As  to  the  propriety  or  impropriety  of  giving  the  name  of  chapters  to  divi- 
sions sometimes  longer  than  what  are  called  books  in  other  works,  I  leave  it 
to  the  critics. 


xxvi  PREFACE. 

order  to  avoid  breaking  the  uniformity  of  the  page.1  They  are 
chiefly  employed  in  endeavouring  to  illustrate  such  portions  of 
Scottish  history  as  seem  to  be  casually  involved  in  obscurity, 
or  intentionally  perverted  by  fiction :  not  that  I  pretend  to  dis- 
cover the  truth  on  all  occasions :  we  can  often  perceive  the 
existence  of  error  without  being  able  absolutely  to  disprove  it ; 
and  even  when  we  think  our  proofs  are  undeniable,  we  are 
sometimes  far  from  the  truth.  So  fully  convinced  am  I  of  this, 
that,  instead  of  presuming  dictatorially  to  assert  facts,  I  only 
lay  before  the  reader  for  his  consideration  such  evidence  as  has 
occurred  to  me  in  the  course  of  my  reading  ;2  and  I  may  justly 
say  with  a  late  learned  and  worthy  labourer  in  the  thorny  field 
of  Scottish  antiquities,  "  Utinatn  tarn  facile  vera  invenire  possem, 
quam  falsa  convincere."* 

Some  may  perhaps  think  me  too  rigorous  in  giving  no 
quarter  to  certain  stories,  which  from  their  early  youth  they 
have  taken  pleasure  in  believing.  If  these  stories  are  true, 
their  truth  will  be  the  more  firmly  established  by  investiga- 
tion ;  but  if  they  are  false,  history  ought  by  all  means  to  be 
cleared  of  them,  more  particularly  of  those  which  appear  to 

1  Except  a  few  very  short   ones  in  the  five  first  books,  which  it  was 
necessary  to  have  immediately  under  the  eye  for  supplying  the  want  of  con- 
nection occasioned  by  the  suppression  of  the  context. 

2  In  adducing  authorities  I  have  been  careful  to  quote  the  earliest  authors 
without  encumbering  the  pages  with  the  names  of  their  followers  :  only  when 
quoting  Fordun  I  have  generally  added  the  parallel  place  in  GoodaVs  edition 
of  the  Scotichronicon,  because  Hearne's  edition  of  Fordun's  own  work  is  a 
scarce  book. 

3  Lord  Hailes,  in  p.  1  of  his  Remarks  on  the  history  of  Scotland,  published 
in  1773,  to  which  this  wish  of  Cicero  is  prefixed  as  a  motto,  could  "  hardly 
venture  to  express  [his]  doubts  as  to  the  historical  evidence"  of  the  antient 
alliance  with  France.    But  during  the  few  years  which  have  elapsed  since  he 
published  that  work,  the  mental  illumination  of  Scotland  has  been  great  and 
rapid  ;  and  the  study  of  history  in  particular  has  made  such  advances,  that 
no  one  need  now  fear  to  give  offence  by  clearing  away  the  rubbish  of  fable, 
and  restoring  the  truth  of  history  as  far  as  is  practicable.     "  Ne  quidfalsi 
dicere  audeat,  ne  quid  veri  non  audeat  historlcus." 


PREFACE.  xxvii 

have  originated  in  malitious  or  interested  calumny,  such  as 
the  wickedness  and  tyranny  of  King  Macbeth,  the  treachery  of 
Menteth  and  Cumin,  with  others  of  the  like  stamp,  my  abhor- 
rence of  which  may  perhaps  be  in  some  degree  heightened  by 
the  recollection  of  my  own  sufferings  from  malitious  and  in- 
terested falsehoods.  But  surely  even  scepticism,  if  such  a  name 
is  to  be  given  to  a  withholding  of  our  assent  where  we  see  no 
grounds  of  belief,  or  to  the  detection  of  error,  is  preferable  to  a 
supine,  lazy,  and  unmanly  acquiescence  in  the  belief  of  un- 
founded fiction,  as  a  total  privation  of  history  is  unquestionably 
preferable  to  the  masses  of  fable  and  gross  absurdity  formerly 
called  histories  of  Britain,  Scotland,  and  Ireland,  preceding  the 
Christian  sera.  The  deposition  of  the  usurper  Falsehood,  who 
has  for  near  three  centuries  reigned  triumphant  in  Scottish 
history,  at  least  makes  room  for  the  restoration  of  the  lawful 
sovereign  Truth ;  and  even  the  starting  of  doubts  may  stimu- 
late some  who  have  better  opportunities  to  researches,  which 
may  at  length  bring  about  that  desirable  event.  If  my  labours 
shall  have  such  an  effect  I  shall  think  them  well  bestowed, 
and  shall  alwise  esteem  myself  happy  if  I  may  in  some  small 
degree  be  instrumental  in  reforming  Scotland  from  Hector 

O  ° 

Boyse  :*  "  Quid  enim  fortius  desiderat  anima  quam  verita- 
tem?"z 

The  short  Table  of  holidays,  which  follows  the  notes,  will 

1  See  Annals,  vol.  ii.  p.  224,  Note.     Justice  to  departed  merit  demands, 
that  the  reformation  of  Scotland  from  Hector  Boyse,  and  the  improvement 
of  historic  knowledge,  which  has  consequently  taken  place  in  it,  should  in  a 
great  measure  be  ascribed  to  the  valuable  Annals  and  other  works  of  LORD 
HAILES.    I  the  more  freely  contribute  my  mite  of  the  praise  due  to  his  historic 
merit,  as  even  malice  cannot  pretend  that  it  proceeds  from  any  expectation 
of  a  return.    Had  he  been  alive,  I  should  scarcely  have  presumed  to  say  even 
thus  much. 

2  Several  of  the  notes  are  abridgments  of  essays  written  long  ago,  which 
have  been  occasionally  revised  and  corrected  during  the  course  of  many 
years. 


xxviii  PREFACE. 

sometimes  save  the  reader  the  trouble  of  searching  in  calendars 
for  dates  long  ago  disused. 

In  the  Index  will  be  found  catalogues  of  the  Kings,  Bishops, 
noble  families,  &c.,  every  succeeding  King,  Bishop,  or  Chief  of 
a  family  being  distinguished  by  Italics  ;  and  where  the  succes- 
sion of  Kings,  Earls,  &c.,  is  continuous  or  nearly  so,  the  con- 
nection of  each  one  with  his  predecessor,  whose  name  is  marked 
by  the  initial  letter,  is  also  ascertained,  either  from  my  author, 
or  from  the  best  authorities  attainable.  The  actions  of  each 
person  are  arranged  in  order  of  time,  and  under  one  head,  what- 
ever variety  of  titles  he  may  have  had,  so  as  to  give  a  connected 
biographical  sketch  of  his  life.  Thus  the  reader  may  find  at 
one  glance  the  whole  information  given  by  Wyntown  concerning 
families  or  individuals,  with  the  addition  of  their  genealogical 
connection.  Kings,  Earls,  &c.,  are  also  found  under  their  own 
proper  names  in  the  alphabetical  order  ;  but  not  Bishops,  they 
being  never  mentioned  as  concerned  in  any  transactions  foreign 
to  their  episcopal  character.  I  have  been  as  careful  as  possible 
not  to  omit  any  Scottish  or  English  names. 

The  Glossary,  which  is  usually  subjoined  to  the  author's 
work,  is  here  prefixed  to  it,  chiefly  for  the  uniformity  of  the 
volumes,  as  the  second  would  otherways  be  so  much  larger 
than  the  first,  owing  to  the  great  quantity  of  the  eighth  book 
and  the  necessary  appendages  already  mentioned. 

In  a  Glossary  it  is  not  satisfactory  to  a  reader  who  desires 
to  judge  for  himself  and  scorns  to  be  put  in  leading-strings 
(and  to  such  only  do  I  wish  to  devote  my  labours)  to  see  one 
word  set  after  another  as  its  explanation,  for  the  justness  of 
which  he  is  obliged  to  rely  on  the  infallibility  of  the  glossarist, 
who,  perhaps  without  any  investigation  of  the  nature  and 
structure  of  the  word  or  of  its  connection  with  the  context  in 
a  sufficient  number  of  examples,  boldly  puts  down  whatever 
will  make  grammatical  sense  in  the  passage  before  him,  though 


PREFACE.  xxix 

it  may  be  very  far  from  the  meaning  of  his  author.  But  when 
the  reader  sees  before  him  the  same  word  with  little  or  no 
variation  bearing  the  same  meaning  in  the  cognate  languages, 
no  doubt  can  remain  of  the  justness  of  the  interpretation. 

In  order  to  afford  this  satisfaction  to  the  reader,  I  have 
selected  such  of  the  synonyma  in  the  cognate  or  sororiau 
languages,  as  are  most  clearly  illustrative  of  the  words  to  be 
explained.  This,  to  be  sure,  is  a  very  laborious  task  which  I 
have  imposed  upon  myself ;  but  had  I  preferred  sloth  to  exer- 
tion, and  faith  in  others  to  my  own  endeavours  to  get  as  near 
to  the  fountain-head  of  knowledge  as  possible,  I  ought  to  have 
let  alone  the  work  altogether. 

In  selecting  the  kindred  words  I  have  rejected  all  far- 
fetched affinities,  though  many  of  them  are  ingeniously  sup- 
ported, and  some  of  them  may  be  true.  I  do  not  in  any 
instance  pretend  to  determine  which  are  primitive  words,  and 
which  derivative,  or  that  any  of  them  are  primitives.  Neither 
do  I  take  any  concern  in  the  deduction  of  their  genealogy  from 
Noah's  ark  or  the  plains  of  Shinar.1  All  that  I  pretend  to 

1  I  have  sometimes  adduced  Greek,  and  more  frequently  Latin  words,  as 
cognates  ;  but  it  does  not  follow  that  the  Scottish  words  are  derived  from 
them  any  more  than  they  from  the  Scottish.  There  is  reason  to  hope  that  a 
more  rational  system  of  philology  will  soon  explode  the  schoolboy  idea,  which 
has  for  ages  perverted  the  judgment  of  even  learned  men,  and  set  them  upon 
deriving  all  the  languages  of  Europe  from  the  Greek  and  Latin,  but  chiefly 
from  the  Greek.  They  surely  imagined  either  that  the  Greeks  peopled  all 
Europe,  or  that  all  the  nations  of  Europe  were  destitute  of  names  for  the 
most  common  things  till  they  went  to  school  in  Greece.  There  is  no  reason  to 
believe  that  a  single  word  of  the  languages  spoken  by  any  of  the  antient  nations 
in  Britain  could  possibly  be  derived  to  them  from  the  Greeks,  who  do  not 
appear  to  have  ever  had  any  intercourse  with  this  island.  When  the  Chris- 
tian religion  was  introduced,  some  Greek  words  peculiar  to  it  and  to  the 
sciences  came  along  with  it,  and  these,  to  the  best  of  my  recollection,  are 
the  only  Greek  words  to  be  found  in  Wyntown.  Of  later  date  are  most  of 
the  terms  of  art,  which  have  in  like  manner  been  received  with  the  arts,  or, 
from  a  partiality  for  the  Greek  language,  been  fabricated  at  home,  the  more 
expressive  native  words  being  discarded  to  make  way  for  them  :  hence  most 


xxx  PKEFACE. 

know  is,  that  the  words  which  I  have  brought  together  appear 
evidently,  from  their  strong  family  likeness,  to  be  of  the  same 
origin,  or  rather  in  most  cases  the  very  same  words,  when  each 
is  divested  of  its  peculiar  servile  termination,  which  is  there- 
fore generally  separated  from  the  body  of  the  word  by  a  hyphen. 
Thus  my  Glossary,  though  containing  the  materials  of  a  huge 
Etymologicon,  is  entirely  free  of  etymology. 

As  a  partial  Dictionary  of  the  language  of  Scotland,  this 
Glossary,  however  inferior  in  other  respects  to  the  excellent 
one  compiled  by  Mr.  Euddiman  for  Douglas's  Virgil,  has  this 
material  advantage  of  it,  that  most  of  the  words  in  it  belong  to 
the  genuine  language  of  the  country;  whereas  a  very  great 
proportion  of  the  other  consists  of  foreign  words  fabricated  by 
Douglas  himself.1  Such  words  as  occur  in  both  Glossaries 

of  the  books  describing  the  fruits  of  the  earth  or  the  diseases  of  mankind, 
subjects  which  ought  to  be  level  to  every  comprehension,  though  they  bear 
English  titles,  cannot  be  read  by  any,  who  have  not  studied  these  sciences, 
without  the  help  of  a  Greek  Lexicon. 

The  naturalizing  of  Latin  words,  perhaps  through  the  medium  of  the 
French,  was  common  in  England,  and  most  probably  also  in  Scotland,  long 
before  Wyntown's  time.  The  judicious  reader  will  find  no  difficulty  in  dis- 
tinguishing those  which  are  descended  of  the  Latin  by  the  manner  of  their 
formation,  from  those  with  which  it  is  only  cognate  ;  and  here  it  is  proper 
to  observe,  that  many  modern  words,  which  we  have  received  from  the 
Latin,  are  in  reality  Gothic,  an  example  of  which  is  shewn  in  the  Glossary, 
vo.  Thole. 

I  beg  leave  to  close  this  note  with  a  childish  story  of  myself.  Soon  after 
I  began  to  learn  Latin,  another  boy  and  I  having  been  told  that  the  most  of 
the  English  language  was  derived  from  it,  set  ourselves  to  find  out  the  words 
so  derived ;  and  we  discovered  tha.t  the  English  adjective  secure  was  from  the 
Latin  noun  securis,  an  axe  !  How  many  hundreds  of  pompous  etymologies 
have  no  better  foundation  ? 

1  Douglas's  translation  of  Virgil's  ^Eneid  is  the  Scottish  work  best  known 
to  the  learned  beyond  the  limits  of  Scotland,  having  been  often  quoted  and 
referred  to  as  the  standard  of  the  Scottish  language,  even  before  the  publica- 
tion of  Ruddiman's  Glossary  ;  and  a  wonderful  work  it  is,  being,  according 
to  Warton  [vol.  ii.  p.  281],  the  first  complete  metrical  translation  of  Virgil'a 
^Eneid  (and  indeed  of  any  classic  writer)  done  in  Britain,  and  also  in  the 
opinion  of  several  good  judges  the  best.  No  part  of  his  merit,  however, 


PKEFACE.  xxxi 

(and  these  are  not  near  so  many  as  might  be  expected)  fre- 
quently have  very  different  explanations,  it  being  the  business 
of  a  glossarist  to  give  only  those  meanings  of  a  word  in  which 
his  author  uses  it.  The  little  identity  to  be  found  in  the  two 
Glossaries  is  a  circumstance  which  adds  to  the  utility  of  both. 

The  General  Rules,  which  precede  the  Glossary,  also  differ 
considerably  from  Mr.  Euddiman's,  owing  to  the  superior  purity 
of  the  language  in  Wyntown's  time,  which  will  be  obvious  on 
a  comparison  of  the  vocables  and  construction  with  those  of 
the  Mceso-Gothic,  Anglo-Saxon,  and  Islandic,  some  instances 
of  which  I  have  observed  in  the  notes,  and  many  more  may  be 
found  in  every  page  of  the  Glossary. 

I  have  no  doubt  that  the  candid  reader,  considering  this 
Glossary  as  an  attempt,  in  which,  I  may  say,  I  have  had  no 
predecessor,  and  moreover  as  being  only  an  appendage,  will 
think  it  entitled  to  some  indulgence  for  its  errors  and  de- 
ficiencies. The  critic,  who  finds  these  very  numerous,  will  do 

consists  in  presenting  a  genuine  specimen  of  the  language,  as  will  be  obvious 
to  any  one  who  compares  the  language  of  Barber  and  Wyntown  with  his,  and 
all  of  them  with  the  most  antient  and  genuine  specimen  of  the  Gothic  pre- 
served in  the  precious  Gospels  of  Ulfila.  Douglas  was  sensible  that  the  use 
of  exotic  words  was  not  a  merit,  but  an  inevitable  defect  in  his  work  [see  his 
preface,  pp.  5,  9]  ;  yet  some  of  his  admirers  affect  to  praise  him  for  this 
defect,  which  they  call  enriching  the  language.  So  the  wine-makers  of  this 
country  enrich  the  genuine  juice  of  the  grape  with  sloe-juice  and  other 
heterogeneous  poisons. 

It  may  be  agreeable  to  those,  who  love  to  trace  the  history  of  literature, 
to  see  the  following  notice  of  a  translation  at  least  a  full  century  before 
Douglas  (but  whether  from  a  classic  or  not  is  unknown),  which  is  in  our 
author's  Chronicle,  B.  I.  ch.  viii. 

"  In  Ynd  ar  othir  ferlyis  sere, 

That  I  lewe  for  to  rekyn  here  ; 

For  tha  ar  tyl  yhowre  knawlage 

Translatyde  welle  in  oure  langage." 

Q.  If  the  original  of  this  now  lost  translation  was  Solinus,  in  whose  descrip- 
tion of  India  there  are  many  wonders  ;  or  the  pretended  letter  of  Alexander 
to  Aristotle,  De  situ  et  mirabllilus  Indice,  said  to  be  translated  by  Cornelius 
Nepos  from  the  Greek,  which  was  a  very  common  manuscript  ? 


xxxii  PEEFACE. 

a  good  service  to  the  republic  of  letters  if  he  will  furnish  a 
complete  one ;  in  doing  which  he  may  perhaps  find  even  my 
poor  attempt  of  some  assistance  to  him.  Those,  whom  their 
own  studies  have  qualified  to  judge  of  such  an  undertaking, 
well  know,  that  to  do  complete  justice  to  it  requires  the  assi- 
duous labour  of  many  years  devoted  to  the  study  of  philology, 
together  with  the  abilities  of  an  IHRE. 

I  wish  it  were  in  my  powder  to  give  any  thing  which  might 
deserve  to  be  called  the  Life  of  Wyntown ;  but  from  want  of 
materials  I  can  do  little  more  than  draw  into  one  point  of  view 
what  may  be  gathered  from  his  own  work. 

ANDROW  OF  WYNTOWN  appears  to  have  been  born  about  the 
middle  of  the  long  reign  of  David  n.,  as  he  complains  of  the 
_infirmities  of  old  age  when  engaged  in  the  first  copy  of  his 
Chronicle.1  It  is  quite  unknown  of  what  family  he  was,  though 
conjecture  might  venture  to  suppose  him  a  relation  of  Alane 
of  Wyntown,  whose  marriage  with  the  heiress  of  Setown,  mis- 
taken by  the  historiographer  of  the  family,  and  misrepresented 
or  omitted  by  the  compilers  of  peerages,  is  related  by  him 
[see  B.  VIII.  ch.  xli.  and  note~\,  and  from  him  by  Bower.2 

1  See  B.  IX.  Prol.,  which  is  the  same  in  the  Cotton  manuscript  tran- 
scribed from  the  first  copy. 

2  Besides  this  Alane  and  his  posterity,  mentioned  by  the  transcriber  of 
the  Cupar  manuscript  of  the  Scotichronicon  [v.  Sc.  Chr.  vol.  ii.  p.  337,  no'e],  I 
find  the  following  men  of  the  name,  who  were  all  cotemporary  with  our 
author. 

Ingrame  of  Winton,  appointed  by  David  it.  keeper  of  the  castle  of  Kil- 
drummy  in  1362  [see  B.  VIII.  ch.  xlvi.  7165]. 

Willielmus  de  Wintonia,  who  died  on  his  pilgrimage  to  Mount  Sinay.  [Rot. 
Scotice,  37mo.  Edw.  HI.  apud  Ayloffe,  p.  226.]  If  this  be  not  the  son  of 
Alane  and  the  Lady  of  Setown,  and  his  death  is  too  early  for  him  to  be  called 
"  veteranus  "  [v.  Sc.  Chr.  ut  supra],  the  pilgrimage  to  the  holy  land  may  be 
said  to  have  been  a  family  disease  among  the  Wyntowns. 

Eymunde  de  Wyntona,  witness  in  a  charter  by  the  Earl  of  Eoss,  conveying 
the  lands  of  Gerloch  to  Paul  Mactyre,  dated  at  Delgheny  5th  April  1366. 


PKEFACE.  xxxiii 

He  was  a  Canon  regular  of  the  priory  of  St.  Andrews, 
which  was  so  great  and  flourishing,  that  it  had  under  its  juris- 
diction the  priories  of  St.  Serf's  insh  in  Loch  Levin,  Portmoak 
on  the  north  bank  of  the  same  Loch,  both  in  Kinross-shire, 
Pittenween  in  the  east  part  of  Fife,  the  isle  of  May  in  the 
Firth  of  Forth,  and  Monymusk  in  Aberdeenshire.  The  Prior 
of  St.  Andrews  was  moreover  entitled  to  take  precedence  in 

_parliament,  not  only  of  all  Priors,  but  even  of  all  Abbats,  in 
honour  of  the  supremacy  of  the  episcopal  see,  with  which  he  was 
connected.  [Sc.  Chr.  vol.  i.  p.  367;  and  note  on  B.  IX.  ch.  vi.  555.] 
In  or  before  the  year  1395,1  our  author  was  by  the  favour  of 

Jiis  fellow  Canons  elected  Prior  of  the  monastery  of  St.  Serfs 
insh  in  Loch  Levin,  one  of  the  most  ancient  religious  establish- 
ments in  Scotland,  which  was  founded  by  Brud,  son  of  Dargard, 
King  of  the  Pichts,  probably  about  the  year  700,  and  enriched 

Johannes  Wenton,  Armiger  de  Scotia,  who  has  a  safe  conduct  from  Henry  v. 
to  come  to  the  presence  of  him  and  his  dear  cousin  James,  King  of  the  Scots, 
in  London,  4th  October  1421  [Feed.  vol.  x.  p.  154]. 

Out  of  these  a  genealogist  would  easily  find  relations  and  frame  a  pedigree 
for  our  Wyntown,  which  might  with  some  degree  of  probability  be  grafted 
on  the  Earls  of  Winton  or  Winchester,  in  England,  who,  by  the  marriage  of 
Alan  of  Galloway's  daughter,  got  vast  possessions,  and  the  important  office  of 
Great  Constable  in  Scotland.  It  is  certain  that  the  cadets  of  a  great  family 
often  assumed  the  title  of  their  Chief  as  a  designation  or  surname,  and  the 
fiery  dragon  born  by  the  Earls  of  Winchester  in  England  and  the  Earls  of 
Winton  in  Scotland  is,  according  to  the  rules  of  heraldry,  a  presumption  of 
affinity.  Whether  a  partiality  for  the  family  of  Winchester  induced  our 
author  superfluously  to  detail  their  genealogy,  along  with  that  of  Alan's 
daughters,  who  were  of  the  royal  blood,  I  know  not. 

The  only  family  of  the  name  mentioned  in  Nisbefs  Heraldry  [vol.  i. 
pp.  142,  363]  is  stiled  of  Strathmartin. 

1  In  1395  "  Andreas  de  Wynton,  Prior  insule  lacus  de  Levin"  was  present 
with  others  at  a  perambulation  for  dividing  the  baronies  of  Kirkness  and 
Lochor  "  in  presentia  serenissimi  principis  Roberti  Ducis  Albanie."  In  1406 
he  is  designed  "  Canonicus  Sancti  Andree,  Prior  prioratus  insule  Sancti 
Servani  infra  lacum  de  Levin.'  These  notices  are  partly  from  the  Chartulary 
of  St.  Andrews,  and  partly  from  extracts  taken  from  a  quarto  volume  of 
manuscript  collections  belonging  to  Mr.  Henry  Malcolm,  an  episcopal  minister 

VOL.  I.  C 


xxxiv  PEEFACE. 

with  many  ample  possessions  by  the  Kings  of  Scotland  and 
Bishops  of  St  Andrews.1 

Schyr  Jhone  of  the  Wemyss,  ancestor  of  the  Earls  of 
Wemys,  was  one  of  his  particular  friends,  to  whom  he  appears 
to  have  considered  himself  as  under  great  obligations.  It  was 
at  his  request  that  he  undertook  his  Chronicle  [B.  I.  Prol.  54], 
_which  was  finished  between  the  3d  of  September  1420  and 
the  return  of  King  James  from  England  in  April  1424,  as  ap- 
pears by  Eobert  Duke  of  Albany  being  mentioned  as  dead,  and 
the  prayer  for  the  prosperity  of  his  children  in  B.  IX.  ch.  xxvi. 
2782,  et  seqq.  Indeed,  from  the  tenor  of  this  chapter,  it  is  pretty 
evident  that  it  was  written  very  soon  after  the  death  of  Duke 
Eobert,  and  that  it  once  stood  as  the  conclusion  of  the  work  ; 
for  the  chapter  following  it,  which  is  quite  foreign  to  the  history 
of  Scotland,  may  be  presumed  to  have  been  added  afterwards, 
^especially  if  the  marriage  of  John  of  Bavaria  was  not  earlier  than 
1424.  [See  Notes,  B.  IX.  ch.  xxvi.  2849,  and  ch.  xxvii.  3321.] 

While  our  author  was  engaged  in  his  work,  some  unknown 
person  of  a  genius  similar  to  his  own,  sent  him  the  history 

at  Ballingry  before  the  revolution,  who  died  at  Cupar  in  Fife  about  the  year 
1730,  by  George  Chalmers,  Esq.,  whose  communication  of  both  of  them,  and 
of  the  notice  concerning  Eymund  de  Wynton  in  the  preceding  note  is  a  part 
of  his  many  kind  attentions  to  this  publication  and  to  me. 

Innes  [p.  622]  mentions  "  several  authentick  acts  or  publick  instruments  " 
of  Wyntown  as  Prior  from  1395  till  1413  in  Extracts  from  the  Register  of 
the  Priory  of  St.  Andrews  in  the  possession  of  the  Earl  of  Pan  mure.  These 
concurring  testimonies  make  it  certain  that  he  was  Prior  in  1395  ;  and  yet 
in  Extracts  from  the  same  Register  in  the  Harleian  library,  No.  4628,  f.  2  b, 
there  is  noted  a  charter  "  per  Jacobum  priorem  S.  Andree  de  Loch  Leven, 
anno  1396,"  which  must  be  a  mistake  ;  and  indeed  this  manuscript  is  very 
carelessly  written,  so  by  no  means  to  be  set  in  competition  with  the  copy 
examined  by  Innes. 

1  See  B.  I.  Prol.  B.  V.  ch.  xii.  5228,  and  Excerpts  from  the  Earl  of  Pan- 
mure's  manuscript  of  the  Register  of  the  Priory  of  St.  Andrews,  published  in 
Crawford's  Officers,  pp.  428  et  seqq.,  containing  the  donations  and  some 
curious  notices  concerning  antient  manners  and  customs  extracted  from  an 
old  volume  written  "  antiquo  Scotorum  idiomate." 


PREFACE.  xxxv 

fy»i 

from  the  birth  of  David  u.  to  the  death  of  Robert  n.,  ap- 
parently written,  or  rather  finished,  in  the  beginning  of  the 
reign  of  Robert  III.  [See  B.  IX.  ch.  x.  1 1 1 8],  which  having  ex- 
amined and  approved,  he  gladly  incorporated  into  his  own  work. 
[See  B.  VIII.  ch.  xix. ;  B.  IX.  ch.  x.  1153.]  This  ample  contri- 
bution is  composed  in  the  same  style  and  same  kind  of  verse 
with  his  own  work  ;  so  that  without  the  least  breach  of  uni- 
formity, it  gives  us  the  singular  advantage  of  having  the  last 
eighty-three  years  of  the  history  composed  by  two  writers,  who 
lived  during  the  greatest  part  of  the  time  which  they  wrote  of. 

Before  Wyntown's  time  the  history  of  the  Scots  had  been 
plunged  into  confusion  almost  inextricable  by  an  insatiable  and 
ignorant  rage  for  antiquity,  which  placed  the  reign  of  Fergus 
1200  years  before  that  of  Kenneth  Mac-Alpin,  whom  they  made 
only  the  tenth  in  descent  from  him,  thus  involving  themselves 
in  the  monstrous  absurdity  of  allowing  120  years  to  each 
generation.  Wyntown  saw  and  felt  the  dilemma,  but  not 
having  sufficiently  informed  himself  from  antient  records,  he 
could  see  no  way  of  getting  rid  of  it,  and  fairly  gave  it  up  to 
"  othir  of  mare  sufficians."  [See  B.  IV.  ch.  viii.  xix.  in  V.  E.] 

Having  afterwards  obtained  better  information,  he  found  it 
expedient  to  give  a  second  improved  copy  of  the  Chronicle  with 
the  important  correction,  which  by  enumerating  the  years  of 
Fergus  and  his  successors  reduces  his  sera  pretty  near  to  the 
truth,  being  even  a  little  below  it  j1  though  at  the  same  time 
he  could  not  drop  the  notion  that  the  Scots  were  in  Scotland 
245  years  before  the  Pichts.  But  he  knew  nothing  of  the 

1  The  reigns  contained  in  B.  IV.  ch.  viii.  amount  to  195  years;  the  reign 
of  Ewan  or  Heatgan  by  Reg.  S.  And.  is  16  years,  which  numbers  subtracted 
from  741,  the  year  in  which  Ewan  died,  place  the  accession  of  Fergus  in 
530,  which  is  too  late  by  27  years. 

The  transcripts  from  this  corrected  copy  of  Wyntown  are  much  scarcer 
than  those  from  the  first  one.  Innes,  who  had  examined  many,  never  saw 
any  but  the  one  in  the  Royal  library.  The  Harleian  manuscript  is  another. 


xxxvi  PEEFACE. 

forty-four  or  (thirty-nine)  Kings  preceding  Fergus,  nor  of  his 
interpolated  successors,  and  in  short  has  the  happiness  to  be 
ignorant  of  many  of  the  stories,  which  have  long  been  deemed 
essential  points  of  faith  in  Scottish  history,  but  are  now 
vanishing  like  mist  before  the  increasing  sunshine  of  reason. 

Fordun,  our  author's  cotemporary  and  fellow  labourer 
(though  they  were  unknown  to  each  other)  fell  upon  a  method 
of  settling  the  chronology  of  Fergus  very  easily  by  fairly 
splitting  him  into  two  Kings,  one  of  whom  he  places  100  years 
before  his  due  time,  and  the  other  330  years  before  the 
Christian  sera,  leaving  however  the  names,  actions,  and  charac- 
ters of  the  Kings  between  his  two  Fergusses  to  be  supplied 
from  the  "  fine  fancy"  of  Hector  Boyse,  though  he  is  particular 
enough  in  the  history  of  the  imaginary  Kings,  interpolated 
among  the  successors  of  Fergus,  which  he  in  vain  attempts  to 
"authenticate  from  Bede  and  other  authors  of  credit.  These 
fictitious  Kings  constitute  the  grossest  fault  in  Fordun's  work, 
which,  except  in  this  instance,  where  the  ambition  of  false 
antiquity  for  ike  honour  of  Scotland  has  carried  him  off  his  feet, 
is  in  general  faithfully  compiled  from  the  best  materials  he 
could  obtain.1  From  a  comparison  of  Fordun  and  Wyntown, 
who  may  be  considered  as  two  witnesses  ignorant  of  the  evi- 
dence given  by  each  other,  we  may  obtain  a  pretty  just  view 
of  the  unsettled  and  inaccurate  idea,  which  the  Scots  enter- 
tained about  the  conclusion  of  the  fourteenth  century  of  their 
early  history. 

It  is  probable  that  Wyntown  did  not  very  long  survive  the 
final  conclusion  of  his  work ;  for,  as  I  have  already  observed, 
he  reckoned  himself  an  old  man  when  engaged  in  it ;  and  in- 

1  The  reader  will  please  to  advert,  that  I  speak  of  Fordun's  own  work, 
as  published  by  Hearne,  and  partly  by  Gale,  but  not  of  the  Scotichronicon 
published  by  Goodal,  which  the  continuator  has  made  almost  his  own  by 
interpolations  and  additions.  This  distinction  ought  to  be  carefully  attended 
to  by  all  M'ho  study  the  history  of  Scotland. 


PKEFACE.  xxxvii 

deed  he  could  be  no  less,  for  he  had  then  presided  over  his 
priory  about  thirty  years,  perhaps  longer  ;  and  we  may  take  it 
for  granted  that  he  was  not  a  young  man  when  he  was  elected 
to  that  dignity. 

The  character  of  Wyntown  as  an  historian  is  in  a  great 
measure  common  to  the  other  historical  writers  of  his  age,  who 
generally  admitted  into  their  works  the  absurdity  of  tradition 
along  with  authentic  narrative,  and  often  without  any  mark  of 
discrimination,  esteeming  it  a  sufficient  standard  of  historic 
fidelity  to  narrate  nothing  but  what  they  found  written  by 
others  before  them.  Indeed,  as  connection  of  parts,  uniformity 
of  subject,  and  strict  investigation  of  authorities  were  little 
known  or  studied  in  those  ages,  it  is  very  fortunate  that  they 
did  compile  their  works  in  that  crude  manner,  for  thereby  we 
have  the  advantage  of  often  finding  in  these  authors  genuine 
transcripts  from  more  antient  authorities,  of  which  their  ex- 
tracts are  the  only  existing  remains.1  Had  they,  who  after 
Wyntown  assumed  the  office  of  historians  of  Scotland,  followed 
his  example  in  adhering  strictly  to  authorities,  and  expatiated 
less  in  the  enchanted  wilderness  of  "  beautiful  genius  and  fine 
fancy"  the  history  might  have  run  in  a  much  clearer  stream 
than  it  does  at  present. 

The  early  writers  of  various  ages  and  countries  seem  to 
have  agreed  in  a  lazy  custom  of  referring  their  readers  to  the 
works  of  others  for  great  portions  of  the  history  which  they 
themselves  professed  to  give.  Thus  Ennius  omits  the  relation 
of  the  first  Punic  war,  because  it  had  already  been  written  by 
Nsevius,  who  lived  about  forty  years  before  him.  So  Kobert  of 
Glocester  (p.  487)  and  Robert  of  Brunne  (p.  205),  the  two 
earliest  writers  of  English  history  in  English,  refer  their  readers 
to  the  romance  of  Richard  Coeur  de  Lion.  So  Barber  (p.  340) 

1  See  Montaigne's  approbation  of  these  simple  historians,  and  particularly 
of  Froissart.     Essais,  L.  ii.  ch.  10. 


xxxviii  PEEFACE. 

passes  over  the  particulars  of  a  battle  because  then  sung  in 
songs  by  the  young  women.  In  like  manner  Wyntown  passes 
lightly  over  the  history  of  Alexander  the  Great,  the  wars  of 
the  Saxons  with  the  Britons,  the  actions  of  William  Walays 
and  of  Kobert  the  Brus,  and  the  origin  of  the  Stewarts,  because 
they  are 

"  Contenyd  in  othir  bukis  sere." 

This  way  of  sending  the  reader  to  other  books  for  some  of  the 
most  important  parts  of  the  work  proposed  must  have  been 
particularly  distressing,  where  books  were  so  scarce  and  in- 
accessible, as  they  undoubtedly  were  in  Scotland  before  the 
invention  Of  printing.1 

A  contrary  fault  may  perhaps  be  objected  to  Wyntown, 
that  he  sometimes  runs  into  descriptions  more  minute  and 
diffuse  than  are  consistent  writh  the  rules  of  WTiting  history ; 
in  answer  to  which  it  is  sufficient  to  say  that  these  rules  were 
unknown  in  his  age.  Such  descriptions  were  the  defect  per- 
haps more  properly  speaking  the  beauty  of  several  early  his- 
torians :  by  them  Snorro,  the  venerable  Herodotus  of  the  north, 
and  Froissart,  the  history-painter  of  France,  England  and  Scot- 
land, who,  like  our  Wyntown,  had  the  courage  to  write  history 
in  their  native  languages,  bring  us  home  to  the  scenes  they 

1  Books,  and  particularly  historical  ones,  were  very  scarce  in  Scotland  in 
the  ages  preceding  our  author,  as  appears  by  the  small  number  of  authorities 
quoted  by  him  (which  are  subjoined  to  the  preface  [to  be  given  in  vol.  iii.]) 
and  his  lamenting  the  little  assistance  he  had  in  his  general  history  from  pre- 
ceding authors  (see  B.  I.  Prol.  115)  :  nor  are  the  historians  quoted  by  Fordun 
in  his  own  work  very  numerous,  though  he  is  said  to  have  travelled  through 
England  in  quest  of  books  and  materials  for  his  history.  This  need  not  be 
wondered  at,  when  we  observe,  how  very  scarce  books  were  even  in  England 
and  France  at  the  same  time.  (See  Warton,  vol.  i.,  Preliminary  Dissertation  ii.) 
Printing  was  not  yet  invented,  nor  had  the  Turks,  by  taking  possession  of 
Constantinople,  driven  the  treasures  of  Greek  and  Roman  literature  into  the 
western  parts  of  Europe.  A  modern  reader  surrounded  by  his  library  of 
many  thousand  printed  books  must  compassionate  the  distress  of  those  poor 
authors  who  attempted  to  rear  up  an  historical  fabric  with  so  few  materials. 


PREFACE.  xxxix 

describe,  and  make  us  take  an  interest  in  the  characters  they 
draw.  If  the^  succession  of  Kings  and  the  relation  of  their 
battles  be  the  body  of  history,  the  progress  of  the  human  mind 
in  arts  and  knowledge,  and  a  true  delineation  of  manners  so 
different  from  our  own,  as  appears,  for  example,  in  the  justing 
at  Berwick  in  1388,  unquestionably  constitute  the  very  soul 
of  it. 

If  we  except  one  severe  sentence  extorted  from  him  by  the 
cruelties  of  Edward  L,  and  a  reflection  upon  the  English  in 
consequence  of  the  seizure  of  Prince  James,  Wyntown  nowhere 
runs  into  that  abuse  and  contempt  of  the  enemies  of  his 
country,  which  disgrace  the  writings  of  many  of  his  cotem- 
poraries;  but  takes  every  occasion  to  bestow  due  praise  on 
their  gallantry  and  bravery  in  war.  The  same  liberality  of 
sentiment  induces  him  to  mention  other  writers,  and  par- 
ticularly Barber,  in  the  most  respectful  manner.  If  he  shows 
himself  a  very  zealous  son  of  the  Church,  in  taking  all  occasions 
to  advance  the  power  and  dignity  of  the  clergy,  and  to  main- 
tain that  superiority  over  the  civil  power,  which  tttey  claimed 
as  a  divine  right  (see  B.  VI.  ch.  ii.  iv.  ix.,  etc.) ;  we  must  re- 
member that  in  that  age  even  the  laity  considered  devotion 
to  the  Church  as  the  quintessence  of  religion  and  virtue,  and 
the  surest  passport  to  the  joys  of  heaven. 

Historians  have  frequently  declined  bringing  their  works  quite 
down  to  the  time  of  writing,  and  perhaps  it  was  rather  danger- 
ous for  truth  to  tread  too  close  upon  the  heels  of  time.1  What- 
ever was  his  motive,  Wyntown  has  concluded  his  Chronicle  of 
Scotland  at  least  fourteen  years  before  the  time  of  writing  the 
twenty-sixth  chapter  of  the  ninth  book.2 

1  "Tiberii,  Caiique  et  Claudii  ac  Neronis  res,  florentibus  ipsis  ob  metum 
falsce;  postquam  occiderant,  recentibus  odiis  compositae  sunt." 

[Taciti  Anna!,  lib.  i.  c.  1.] 

2  In  the  same  manner  Bower  breaks  off  at  the  death  of  James  i.,  though 
he  appears  to  have  been  engaged  in  his  work  in  the  fourteenth  year  of  James  II. : 


xl  PEEFACE. 

Hitherto  I  have  considered  Wyntown  only  as  an  historian, 
in  which  character  he  certainly  stands  higher  than  as  a  poet ; 
but  as  his  work  is  in  ryme,  he  is  also  classed  among  the  poets 
of  Scotland,  and  he  is  in  point  of  time  the  second  of  the  few 
early  ones  whose  works  we  possess,  Barber  being  his  only 
extant  predecessor.1  Though  his  work  in  general  partakes 
little  or  nothing  of  the  nature  of  poetry,  unless  ryme  can  be 
said  to  constitute  poetry,  yet  he  now  and  then  throws  in  some 
touches  of  true  poetic  description,  and  paints  the  scenery  of  his 
battles  with  so  exact  a  pencil,  that  a  person  who  is  on  the  spot 
may  point  out  the  various  scenes  of  each  particular  action ;  and 
sometimes  like  Homer,  whose  poems  he  never  saw,  he  bestows 
a  portion  of  his  work  in  expatiating  on  the  achievements  of  a 
particular  hero,  as  in  B.  VIII.  ch.  xxxvi.,  where  the  actions  of 
William  Douglas  are  related. 

Wyntown's  verse  consists  of  eight  syllables,  though,  like 
his  cotemporaries  in  England  as  well  as  in  Scotland,  he  does 
not  adhere  strictly  to  his  measure,  lines  even  of  ten,  and  others 
of  only  six'  syllables,  frequently  occurring.  In  only  a  very  few 
instances  he  uses  alliteration,  that  dreadful  fetter  upon  the  sense 
of  antient  poetry,  which  about  his  time  was  so  common,  espe- 
cially in  Scotland  and  the  north  of  England,  that  short  poems, 
and  even  some  of  considerable  length,  were  entirely  composed 
in  it.  Neglect  of  equality  in  the  lines,  alliteration,  and  violent 
transpositions  of  the  natural  order  of  the  language,  which  are 
now  considered  as  unpardonable  blemishes  in  poetical  compo- 

Mair  finishes  with  the  marriage  of  James  in.,  fifty  years  before  the  time 
when  he  wrote  :  an,d  Boyse  concludes  his  first  edition  almost  a  century  before 
his  own  time.  Several  of  the  English  historians  have  also  declined  writing 
the  actions  of  their  cotemporaries. 

1  Gordon,  the  author  of  the  poetical  history  of  King  Eobert,  in  his  pre- 
face mentions  a  manuscript  poem  on  the  same  subject,  which  he  had  the  use 
-of,  written  in  rymes  like  Chaucer's  by  Peter  Fenton  in  1369,  and  conse- 
quently a  few  years  earlier  than  Barber's  poem.  It  is  worthy  of  remark 
that  Wyntown,  though  he  often  quotes  Barber,  has  never  once  mentioned 
Fenton.  Q.  if  there  is  no  mistake  in  the  date. 


.  j/,D,  XX .     -/ 


a. 


PREFACE.  xli 

sition,  were  esteemed  beauties  by  the  antient  Anglo-Saxon  and 
other  Gothic  poets.1 

Wyntown's  work  is  entirely  composed  in  couplets  without 
the  intervention  of  a  single  stanza.  It  frequently  happens  that 
two  couplets  together  end  with  similar  rymes,  which  in  those 
days  was  not  accounted  a  defect. 

The  Royal  manuscript,  marked  1 7,  D.  xx.,  which,  as  already 
observed,  is  greatly  superior  to  all  other  known  manuscripts  of 
Wyntown,2  appears  to  have  been  transcribed  for  George  Barclay 
of  Achrody;3  and  very  soon  after  the  autograph  of  the  cor- 

1  Hickes  has  collected  several  examples  of  alliteration  in  the  Greek  and 
Roman  poets  [g.  as.  p.  195]. 

2  See  the  account  of  this  manuscript  by  Innes,  p.  624. 

3  F.  262  b,  being  the  outside  or  cover  of  one  of  the  quairs,  has  no  part 
of  Wyntown's  work  upon  it,  but  has  the  following  lines  written  apparently 
by  retainers  of  the  gentleman,  for  whom  the  manuscript  was  transcribed, 
which  obliged  the  transcriber  to  pass  to  f.  263. 

At  the  top  of  the  page  in  large  writing  : 

This  buik  dois  perteine 
To  ane  ryoht  honora11  man 
Georg  Barclay  of  Achrody 
And  mony  wther  propirly 
Brother  german  is  he 
To  Sr  Patrik  of  Tollie 
.Cheiff  of  Barclays  in  Scotland 
And  mony  guid  deid  hes  haid 

in  hand 

Under  which  in  a  small  and  very  bad  hand  are  the  following  : 

Barclay 


The  mariage  of  that  Lady 
Indeuit  wt  gitid  qualitie 
Movit  hir  husband  Toly  than 
Into  his  armis  to  d  .... 
Qr  corsis  twa  befoir  hand 
For  he  was  . 


the  thrid  to  bere 


Sr  PatrikAof  TolJie 
Cheiff  of  that  name  I  testifie 
As  in  his  Scheild  ye  may  sie 
Twa  Corsis  weiris  he 
The  thrid  be  resone  quhy 
That  hous  marit  properly 
Ane  dochter  of  Gartly 


W*  gryt  honor  and  dignity 

QIk  than  was  Barclay 

&  was  ane  Kny1  ry*  worthy 

The  left  hand  column,  which  is  to  be  read  last,  is  in  some  places  so  blotted 

as  to  be  unintelligible. 


xlii  PEEFACE. 

rected  copy,  as  several  good  judges  of  manuscripts  have  pro- 
nounced it  to  be  of  the  beginning  of  the  fifteenth  century,  and 
some  have  placed  it  even  before  the  year  1400.  As  we  know 
that  it  could  not  possibly  be  written  earlier  than  in  1420  or 
1421,  the  opinion  of  these  gentlemen  may  warrant  a  belief  that 
it  is  not  latter  than  1430,  and  no  manuscript  in  the  language 
of  Scotland  older  than  it  is  known  to  be  extant.  To  enable  the 
reader  to  compare  the  writing  with  coeval  monuments,  a  speci- 
men of  the  hand  is  herewith  given.1 

The  writing,  of  which  a  specimen  is  engraved,  continues  till 
the  last  chapter  of  the  eighth  book,  after  which  two  different 
transcribers  have  been  employed,  who  wrote  worse  hands ;  and 
both,  particularly  the  last  one,  have  taken  the  common  liberty 
"of  modernizing  the  language,  whence  the  last  part  of  it  is 
sometimes  inferior  to  the  Cotton  manuscript  for  purity.  The 
Eubrics,  which  are  in  red  and  in  a  hand  like  black  print,  are 
also  the  work  of  a  more  modern  writer,  at  least  if  we  may 
judge  from  some  innovations  in  the  spelling.  This  kind  of 
hand,  wherever  it  appears,  is  distinguished  in  the  edition  by 
black  letter,  which,  though  disagreeable  to  the  eye  when  long 
continued,  is  useful  as  a  distinction.  The  illuminated  letters 
of  the  manuscript  are,  as  already  observed,  represented  in  the 
edition  by  open  capitals.  There  is  no  punctuation  in  the  whole- 
manuscript. 

The  volume   consists   of  sixteen  quairs,  each  containing 
eighteen  leaves  in  folio  of  thick  paper,  inclosed  in  a  sheet  of- 

1  In  this  writing  many  of  the  letters  are  of  the  same  form  with  others, 
e.g.  I,  el,  and  w ;  c,  t,  and  sometimes  1;  b  and  v ;  y  and  th  ;  bb  and  Ib ; 

f  and  s  ;  ft  and  s  ;  b  and  I ;  m,  n,  u,  v,  i  not  to  be  known  but  by  the  sense ; 

ff  generally  written  for/,  e.g.  ffyffe;  II  for  I,  e.  g.  bllyssyn  ;  and  the  character 
for  s  so  like  ss,  that  Ross  to  a  reader  unacquainted  with  the  writing  will  seem 
Hosss.  These  confusions  of  the  letters,  and  the  frequent  contractions,  ac- 
count for  the  prodigious  discrepancies  we  find  in  manuscripts,  and  show  how 
necessary  it  is  for  a  transcriber  to  know  the  language  and  the  subject.  The 
custom  of  wri  ting  ff  for  /"was  common  with  old  men  in  the  present  age. 


PEEFACE.  xliii 

vellum,  having  at  the  bottom  of  the  last  page  the  first  words  of 
the  following  one  for  a  direction  to  the  binder,  like  the  signa- 

_tures  in  printed  books ;  for  no  numbers  of  the  folios  were 
originally  marked.1  Thus,  at  the  end  and  beginning  of  the 
quairs  there  are  alwise  two  leaves  of  vellum,  which  in  the 
edition  are  marked  with  V  added  to  the  number  of  the  folio 
on  the  margin.  Though  now  bound  in  one  volume,  it  has 

"^formerly  been  in  three,  the  first  and  third  of  which  have  been 
damaged  by  water  on  the  edges  of  the  leaves. 

Wyntown's  Chronicle  is  followed  by  a  short  Chronicle  of 
Scotland  in  Scottish  prose,  written  by  an  unknown  author 
about  1530  ;  2  and  after  that  there  is  a  Scottish  translation  or 
paraphrase  of  the  letter  pretended  to  be  written  by  Prester 
John  to  the  Emperor  Frederick  which  concludes  the  volume.3 

Several  other  names  besides  that  of  George  Barclay,  are 
written  in  this  book ;  but  whether  they  have  been  owners  of  it 

1  Some  person  has  numbered  a  few  folios  at  the  beginning ;  and  I -have 
numbered  the  rest  with  black  lead,  writing  with  ink  on  books  belonging  to 
the  Museum  not  being  permitted. 

2  The  age  of  this  Chronicle  appears  from  an  observation  in  f.  302,  that 
the  Conquest  of  the  Pichts  in  "  aucht  hundyr  xxx  and  od  "  was  700  years  ago. 
This  brings  it  after  1530  :  but  700  being  a  round  number  we  cannot  pretend 
to  say  that  the  computation  is  accurate.      This  author  is  most  ample,  where 
he  has  no  foundation  to  go  upon,   in  the  fabulous  settlement  of  the  Scots, 
which,  he  contends,  took  place  long  before  the  birth  of  Brutus,  or  even  the 
Trojan  war  :  he  more  rationally  explodes  the  conquests  of  Arthur,  who,  he 
observes,  could  not  defend  his  own  ;  and  he  takes  notice  of  the  hereditary 
right  of  the  Scottish   Kings  as  heirs  of  Edmund  Ironside,  to  the  crown  of 
England.     Having  got  through  the  anti-historical  part,  he  gives  brief  notes 
of  remarkable  events  with  their  dates  down  to  the  year  1482. 

3  This  letter  begins  thus  : — "  John  callit  Prest  King  amang  all  the  Kingis 
of  the  Erde  tyl  ane  nobyl  man  Frederik  Empriour  of  Rome  salutis  gretyng." 
— He  invites  him  to  be  his  Steward  and  Viceroy,  and  tells  him  that  he  is 
both  King  and  Priest,  but  values  himself  chiefly  on  his  priestly  character. 
Then  follows  an  account  of  a  palace  built  of  gold  and  jewels  by  his  father, 
which  satisfies  the  hunger  of  those  who  enter  it  without  the  use  of  food  : 
after  which  he  describes  the  neighbouring  nations,  viz.,  a  nation  of  canibals 
subject  to  him,  whom  Alexander  the  Great  shut  up  between  the  hills  Goth 


xliv  PREFACE. 

is  unknown,  and  of  little  consequence.  In  the  early  part  of 
_the  last  century  it  has  belonged  to  Sir  William  Le-Neve,  when 
he  was  York  Herald,  whose  signature  and  arms  appear  in 
several  places  of  it.1  After  him,  but  whether  immediately  or 
not,  I  know  not,  the  King  became  proprietor  of  it,  from  whose 
library  it  came  with  many  others  into  the  British  Museum, 
where  it  now  is. 

The  manuscript  in  the  Cotton  library,  marked  Nero,  D,XI, 
is,  after  the  Royal,  superior  for  age  and  purity  of  language,  not 
only  to  all  other  manuscripts  of  Wyntown,  but  even  to  all 
others  extant  in  the  language  of  Scotland.2  Its  being  posterior 
to  the  Eoyal  can  only  be  inferred  from  the  proper  names  and 
the  language  being  in  many  instances  more  modern,  ex- 
amples of  which  may  be  found  in  the  contents  of  the  seventh 
book,  in  the  prologue  and  contents  of  the  eighth,  and  in  the 
various  readings  ;  for  the  writing,  of  which  a  specimen  is  given 
in  the  plate,  though  very  different  from  that  of  the  Royal,  is  in 

and  Magoth  :  these  he  sometimes  tarns  out  against  his  enemies,  and  then 
shuts  them  up  again  between  the  hills,  where  they  are  to  remain  till  the 
coming  of  Antichrist.  Another  people  in  the  sandy  desert  haye  "the  clwis 
of  ane  hors."  In  the  desert  is  also  "  the  Yemen  land  "  or  land  of  the  Amazons, 
who  are  100,000  warlike  ladies  on  horse  besides  foot.  His  whole  land  is 
surrounded  by  the  river  Gihon,  which  flows  from  Paradise  ;  and  beyond  it 
is  the  land  of  the  pigmies,  "  mennikynis  lik  barnes  of  fywe  or  sax  yeris  aid," 
who  are  Christians.  Near  them  are  monsters  half  men  and  half  horse,  and 
other  monsters  called  Sagittaris,  who  eat  raw  flesh  and  sleep  upon  trees.  In 
another  desert  there  are  Unicorns,  which  can  be  caiight  by  none  but  a 

virgin. The  end  is  wanting.     There  is  a  copy  of  this  letter  in  French  in 

the  King's  library,  20,  A,  xi  ;  and  there  is  a  quotation  from  it  in  the  Chronicle 
of  Melros,  p.  237  of  the  edition. 

1  In  order  to  ascertain  the  identity  of   the   signature  I  went  to  the 
Herald's  college,  where  Edmund  Lodge,  Esq.,  Lancaster  Herald,  with  great 
politeness  took  the  trouble  of  shewing  me  many  signatures  of  this  gentleman 
in  the  official  books. 

2  The  next  to  it  for  antiquity  is  probably  either  the  manuscript  of  Barber, 
dated  1489,  in  the  Advocates'  Library;  or  the  translation  of  the  Psalms  in 
Scottish  metre,  No.   278   of  the   manuscripts   bequeathed   by  Archbishop 
Parker  to  Corpus-Christi  College  in  Cambridge. 


PREFACE.  xlv 

the  opinion  of  judges  not  distinguishable  from  it  in  point  of 
antiquity  ;  and  indeed  the  difference  of  a  few  years  in  writing 
cannot  be  ascertained  by  the  inspection  even  of  a  Casely.  In 
this  copy  the  lines  are  divided  by  a  short  sloping  mark,  not  for 
the  grammatical  division  of  the  sense,  but  for  a  kind  of  musical 
rest  in  reading,  examples  of  which  may  be  seen  in  the  various 
readings,  B.  IV.  ch.  viii.  xix.  The  book  is  written  in  folio,  on 
paper  folded  so  as  to  make  a  long  and  narrow  page.  It  has 
been  in  very  bad  keeping ;  several  leaves  at  the  beginning  and 
at  the  end  are  lost  [see  V.  B,.]  and  the  writing  at  the  bottoms  of 
many  leaves,  which  have  been  rotted  with  water,  is  supplied 
by  a  latter  hand  upon  slips  of  paper  pasted  on.  When  it  was 
-rebound  by  Sir  Robert  Cotton,  most  of  the  inner  margins  have 
been  strengthened  with  guards  and  some  marginal  notes,  which 
however  appear  to  have  been  of  no  value,  have  been  partly 
cut  off.1 

The  next  manuscript  of  Wyntown  in  order  of  time  is  that 
which  is  marked  A,  7, 1  in  the  library  of  the  Faculty  of  Advo- 
cates at  Edinburgh.  It  is  written  in  folio  upon  paper ;  and 
the  writing,  of  which  a  specimen  is  given  in  the  plate,  is  sup- 
posed to  be  of  the  beginning  of  the  sixteenth  century.  It 
varies  greatly  in  the  numeration  of  the  chapters  from  the  Royal, 
as  it  does  also  in  many  parts  of  the  text,  and  in  the  orthography, 
which  has  been  much  mended  by  the  transcriber.  Unfortunately 
-it  has  lost  many  of  its  leaves,  particularly  from  the  middle  of 
the  sixth2  to  near  the  end  of  the  seventh3  chapter,  and  all 
after  the  middle  of  the  tenth4  chapter  of  the  ninth  book. 

1  This  is  the  Scottish  manuscript,  from  which  Selden  and  Hearne  have 
published  extracts  ;  [See  Notes,  B.  VI.  ch.  vi.  ;  B.  VII.  ch.  ix.  2641]  and  which 
Smith  in  the  Catalogue  of  the  Cotton  Library,  Nicolson  [Scottish  Hist.  Lib. 
p.  129]  and  Mackenzie  [Lives  of  Scottish  Writers,  vol.  i.  p.  475]  describe  as 
a  history  of  the  Kings  in  old  Scottish  verse.  For  want  of  the  beginning 
none  of  them  knew  the  name  of  the  author. 

2  Ninth.  3  Twenty-first.  4  Twenty-third  in  the  Koyal. 


xlvi  PREFACE. 

It  came  into  the  library,  while  it  was  under  the  care  of 
the  learned  Mr.  Thomas  Ruddiman,  and  has  probably  been 
purchased  by  him  : l  but  nothing  is  known  of  its  former  owners, 
further  than  that  the  name  of  John  J^rskine  is  written  on  a 
vellum  leaf  at  the  beginning. 

Next  to  this  is  another  manuscript  belonging  to  the  same 
library,  and  marked  A,  1,  13,  which  is  in  folio,  neatly  written 
on  paper  about  the  end  of  the  sixteenth  century.  It  is  abridged 
in  many  places,  and  more  modernized  and  corrupted  throughout 
than  A,  7,  1.  The  transcriber,  though  he  wrote  the  author's 
division  of  his  work  into  nine  books,  has  neglected  it,  and 
carried  on  the  series  of  chapters,  212  in  number,  to  the  end. 
Annexed  to  it  is  the  short  Chronicle  in  prose,  which  is  sub- 
joined to  the  Royal.  This  manuscript  was  the  property  of  Sir 
James  Balfour,  and  is  marked,  as  all  his  books  were,  with 
Denmilne,  the  name  of  the  place  where  he  kept  his  library  :  it 
afterwards  belonged  to  Sir  Robert  Sibbald,  after  whose  death 
it  was  purchased  by  the  Faculty  of  Advocates,  and  was  for 
some  time  the  only  copy  they  had.2 

These  three  manuscripts  have  been  transcribed  from  the 
first  unimproved  copy  of  Wyntown's  work. 

Another  manuscript,  though  not  deserving  notice  for  its  age 
or  correctness,  yet  must  be  noted  as  being  perhaps  the  only 

1  Ruddiman' s  quotations  of  Wyntown,  as  appears  particularly  from  his 
note  on  Buchanan's  history,  p.  159,  A,  11,  are  from  the  manuscript  A,  1,  13, 
-and  show  that  this  one  had  not  come  into  his  hand  in  1715. 

2  This  is  the  manuscript  so  erroneously  described  by  Mackenzie  in  his 
life  of  our  author,  as  being  in  nine  books.     The  notes  by  Sir  James  Balfour 
which  he  mentions  in  a  manner  that  must  make  us  suppose  them  very 
interesting,  are  chiefly  marginal  contents,  and  of  no  value.     See  Note  on 
B.  VI.  ch.  vi. 

The  account  of  these  two  manuscripts  is  taken  from  the  very  obliging 
communications  of  Alexander  Fraser  Tytler,  Esq.,  to  whom  this  work  is  also 
indebted  for  many  collations  from  them  (accompanied  with  an  attestation  of 
their  accuracy  by  Mr.  Brown,  the  librarian),  which  have  enabled  me  to 
correct  some  errors  of  the  copies  in  the  museum. 


PEEFACE.  xlvii 

__pne,  besides  the  Eoyal,  which  contains  the  author's  improve- 
ments, and  as  having  been  of  some  little  use  in  the  present 
edition.  It  is  No.  6909  of  the  Harleian  library  in  the  Museum, 
and  has  been  written  about  the  middle  of  the  last  century, 
upon  sixty-seven  sheets  of  coarse  paper  in  quarto.  The 
transcriber  has  taken  great  liberties  in  altering  and  abridging. 
Along  with  the  foreign  matter  he  has  omitted  the  short  notices 
of  the  Pichtish  Kings,  the  reign  of  Macbeth,  and  some  other 
parts  of  the  history  of  Scotland,  his  idea  of  which  has  led  him 

-frequently  to  correct  Wyntown  from  Hector  Boyse.  This 
manuscript  seems  to  have  been  copied  from  one  written  in  the 
abbey  of  Kelso ;  for  in  the  rubric  of  the  chapter  answering  to 
B.  VII.  ch.  vi.,  King  David  is  called  "  St.  David  our  founder," 
and  the  one  answering  to  B.  VIII.  ch.  xxvi.  informs  us,  that 
William  of  Dalgernow,  Abbat  of  Kelso,  was  tutor  to  David  II. 
during  his  residence  in  France  ;  a  piece  of  intelligence  which 
I  find  nowhere  else.1 

These  are  the  manuscripts,  from  the  first  of  which  as  the 
standard  text,  and  the  others  as  occasional  auxiliaries,  THE 
ORYGYNALE  CRONYKIL  OF  SCOTLAND  is  now  for  the  first  time 
presented  to  the  public.  I  am  persuaded,  that,  notwithstand- 
ing all  my  endeavours  to  execute  the  work  with  propriety, 
many  mistakes  and  omissions  must  have  escaped  my  attention, 

1  There  have  been,  and  perhaps  there  are  now,  many  other  manuscripts 
of  Wyntown.  (See  Innes,  pp.  624,  683.)  There  was  one  in  the  possession 
of  Mr.  Kirton,  a  clergyman  of  Edinburgh ;  one  at  or  near  Venice  (see  Note  I. 
prol.  57) ;  and  Mr.  Macleod,  a  clergyman  in  the  north  part  of  Scotland,  is 
said  to  have  an  excellent  one ;  but  the  author  of  my  information  does  not 
speak  of  it  with  certainty,  and  one  can  never  be  too  cautious  in  reports  con- 
cerning manuscripts.  In  consequence  of  a  report,  that  there  was  a  copy  of 
Wyntown  in  the  valuable  collection  of  manuscripts  belonging  to  the  Marquis 
of  Lansdown,  I  applied  to  his  lordship  for  permission  to  collate  some  passages, 
who  had  the  goodness  to  send  a  messenger  to  inform  me  that  if  he  had  had 
such  a  manuscript  I  should  have  been  wellcome  to  the  use  of  it ;  but  that, 
from  a  search  made  in  consequence  of  my  application,  it  appeared,  that  there 
was  no  manuscript  of  Wyntown  in  his  possession. 


xlviii  PREFACE. 

and  I  am  confident  that  those  who  know  what  a  labour  it  is  to 
do  justice  to  such  a  work,  and  consequently  are  most  capable 
of  discovering  my  errors,  will  be  the  most  ready  to  look  upon 
them  with  indulgence,  and  to  consider  them  as  the  effect,  not  of 
carelessness,  but  of  that  imperfection  to  which  all  human 
undertakings  are  liable,  and  perhaps  none  more  than  the  first 
publication  of  a  work  in  an  obsolete  language  with  proper 
elucidations. 

[DAVID  MACPHERSON,  1795.] 


THE    FYRST    BUKE 


OF  THE 


OKYGYNALE   CEONYKIL 

OF    SCOTLAND. 


VOL.  I. 


THE 

OEYGYNALE    CEONYKIL 
OF    SCOTLAND. 


[f&etr  foliofots  tfje  Prolog,  ftut  Ml 
tfje  Cornsfciliis  callit  ©rtfltnale,] 


Fol.  1.        -£\.S  men  ar  be  thare  qualyteys 
Inclynyd  tyl  dywersyteys, 
Mony  yharnys  for  tyll  here 
Off  tymys  that  befor  thaim  were, 
The  statys  chawngyde  ande  the  greis. 
Quhar-for  off  swylk  antyqwyteys, 
Thai  that  set  hale  thare  delyte 
Gest  or  story  for  to  wryte, 
Owthir  in  metyre,  or  in  prose, 
Fluryside  fayrly  thaire  purpose  10 

Wytht  queynt  and  curyous  circumstance, 
To  rays  hartis  in  plesance, 
And  the  heraris  tyll  excyte 
Be  wyt,  or  wyll,  tyll  thaire  delyte. 
As  Gwido  de  Columpna  qwhille, 
The  poete  Omere,  and  Vyrgylle, 
Fayrly  fowrmyde  thaire  tretis, 
And  curyowsly  dytyde  thare  storis. 
Sum  oyside  bot  in  plane  manere 


THE   CEONYKIL  [PROL. 

The  dedis  dwne,  and  thare  matere  20 

To  wryte,  as  Dares  of  Frygy 
Wrate  of  the  Trojanys  the  story,     * 
Bot  in  to  plane  and  opyne  style, 
But  curyous  wordis  or  suttyle. 

Allsua  set  I  myne  intent, 
My  wyt,  my  wyll,  and  myne  talent, 
Fra  that  I  sene  hade  storis  sere 
In  Cronnyklys,  quhare  thai  wryttyne  were, 
Thare  matere  in  tyll  fowrme  to  drawe 
Off  Latyne,  in  tyll  Ynglys  sawe.  30 

For  Eomans  to  rede  is  delytabylle, 
Suppose  that  thai  be  quhyle  bot  fabylle, 
And  set  tyll  this  I  gawe  my  wylle, 
My  wyt,  I  kene,  swa  skant  thare-tylle, 
That  I  dowt  sare  thaime  tyll  offend  e 
That  kane  me,  and  my  werk  amende, 
Gywe  I  wryte  owthir  mare  or  les 
Than  the  storys  berys  wytnes  : 
For,  as  I  sayde,  rwde  is  my  wyte 
And  sympyll  to  put  all  in  wryte,  40 

And  clerly  bryng  thame  tyll  knawlage 
Off  Latyne  in  tyll  owre  langage, 
Tyll  ilke  mannys  wndyrstandyng 
For  syndrynes  of  thare  chawngyng : 
Swa  throuch  ffolly  or  nycete, 
I  dowt  confowndyt  for  to  be. 

Bot  Lordys,  gywe  youre  curtasy, 
Forbere  me  in  this  juperty, 
And  fra  thaire  lethe  walde  me  defende, 
That  kane  reprowe,  and  wyll  noucht  mende,         50 
Hawande  excusyde  my  sympylnes, 
Syne  that  I  set  my  besynes 


PROL.]  OF   SCOTLAND.  5 

Tyll  all  yhoure  plesans  generaly  : 
Fol.  1.  b.      Suppos  this  tretys  sympylly 

I  made  at  the  instans  of  a  larde 

That  hade  my  serwys  in  his  warde, 

Schyr  Jhone  of  the  Wemys  be  rycht  name, 

Ane  honest  Knycht,  and  of  glide  fame, 

Suppos  hys  Lordschype  lyk  noucht  be 

Tyll  gret  statys  in  eqwalyte  :  60 

He  mon  of  nede  be  partenere 

Off  qwhat  kyne  blame,  that  I  sulde  bere  ; 

Syne  for  byddynge  at  hys  cownsalle 

Off  det  I  spendyt  my  trawalle  ; 

For  all  honest  det  sulde  be 

Qwyt  wyth  possibylyte : 

And  bowsumnes,  that  as  the  wys 

Sayis,  bettyre  is  than  sacrifyis  : 

For  in  sacryfyis,  the  slayne, 

And  noucht  the  slayare,  mon  thole  the  payne :       70 

Swa  that  the  slaare  hawe  the  mede, 

The  payne  is  soft,  he  tholys,  in  dede. 

Than  sulde  hys  mede  wytht  rycht  be  mare, 

That  suffiryde  in  hym  self  the  sare, 

Quhare  bowsumnes  mays  fredwme  threlle 

Lykyng  wndyr  awe  to  dwelle, 

Noucht  as  bondage  wndyr  lawe, 

Bot  that  lykyng  grace  sulde  knawe. 

I  than,  set  in  lyk  assay, 

Wylfull  is  my  det  to  pay  :  80 

Sympyll  or  sufficeand,  quhether  it  be, 

To  bowsumnes  ay  yhelde  I  me. 

And  for  I  wyll  nane  bere  the  blame 
Off'  my  defawte,  [this]  is  my  name 


THE   CKONYKIL 

Be  baptysyne,  ANDROWE  of  WYNTOWNE, 

Off  Sanctandrowys  a  Chanowne 

Kegulare,  bot  noucht  for-thi 

Off  thaim  all  the  lest  worthy : 

Bot  off  thare  grace  and  thaire  fawoure 

I  wes,  but  meryt,  made  Priowre  90 

Off  the  Ynche,  wythin  Lochlewyne ; 

Hawand  tharof  my  tytill  ewyne 

Off  Sanctandrowys  dyocesy, 

Betwene  the  Lomownde  and  Bennarty. 

The  tytill  of  this  Tretis  hale, 
I  wyll  be  caul^e  ORYGYNALE  : 
For  that  begynnyng  sail  inak  clere 
Be  playne  proces  owre  matere. 
As  of  Angelis,  and  of  Man 

Fyrst  to  rys  the  kynde  began  :  100 

And  how,  eftyr  thare  creatioune, 
Men  grewe  in  tyll  successyowne, 
Wyde  sprede  in  to  thare  greys, 
Thare  statys,  and  thare  qwalyteis, 
Tyll  the  tyme  at  Nynws  Kyng 
Has,  and  tuk  the  gowernyng 
Off  Babylon  and  Assyry. 
Fra  hyme  syne  dystynctly 
It  is  my  purpos  tyll  afferme 

This  Tretis  in  tyll  certane  terme,  110 

Haldand  tyme  be  tym  the  date, 
Fol.  2.       As  Cronyklerys  be-for  me  wrate, 
Reqwyrande  the  correctioune 
Off  grettare  of  perfectyoune. 
For  few  wrytys  I  redy  fande, 
That  I  couth  drawe  to  my  warande : 


PROL.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  7 

Part  off  the  Bybyll  wytht  that,  that  Perys 

Comestor  ekyde  in  hys  yherys ; 

Orosius,  and  Frere  Martyne, 

Wytht  Ynglis  and  Scottis  storys  syne,  120 

And  othir  incedeyns  sere, 

Acordand  lyk  tyll  oure  matere. 

To  this  my  wyt  is  walowide  dry 

But  floure  or  froyte ;  bot  noucht  for-thi 

To  furthhyre  fayrly  this  purpos 

I  seke  the  sawowre  of  that  ros 

That  spanysys,  spredys,  and  evyre  spryngys, 

In  plesans  of  the  Kyng  of  Kyngis. 


THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  I. 


Cfjaptergs  off  tfje  jFgrst  Bufce. 


i-  JOE  dywysiownys  of  this  Tretis. 

ii.  Off  Angelis. 

iii.  Off  Mannys  fyrst  creatioune. 

iiii.  Off  the  slawchtere  of  Abelle. 

v.  Off  Kayinnys  generatyown. 

vi.  Off  Sethys  generatyown. 

vii.  Off  Geawndys. 

viii.  Off  the  Arke  off  Noe,  and  off  the  Spate. 

ix.  Off  the  foure  Kynrykis  pryncipale. 

x.  How  Ynde  and  othir  landys  lyis. 

xi.  How  othir  sindry  Landdys  lyis. 

xii.  How  Egipe  and  othir  landdys  lyis. 

xiii.  How  the  land  off  Affryk  lyis. 

xiiii.  Howe  the  landys  of  Europe  lyis. 

xv.  How  Brettanne  and  Irlande  lyis. 

xvi.  The  fyrst  chawugyng  of  the  Twngis. 

xvii.  The  fyrst  matere  of  Poesy. 

xviii.  The  fyrst  matere  of  Mawmentry. 

xix.  A  Genology  discendande. 


CH.  L]  OF  SCOTLAND. 


CHAP.  I. 


ai  all  thw 
In  to  this  nixt  Qlhtpiwct  g.e 


JL.N  honowre  of  the  Ordrys  nyne 
Off  haly  Angelys,  the  quhilk  dywyne 
Scrypture  lowys,  on  lyk  wys 
I  wylle  departe  now  this  Tretis 
In  Nyne  Bukis,  and  noucht  ma. 

And  the  Fyrst  Buke  of  tha 
Sail  trete  fra  the  begynnyng 
Off  the  Warlde,  quhyll  Nynus  kyng 
Off  Babylon  and  Assyry 

Tuk  wpe  the  lordschype  halily  ;  10 

That  wes  in  to  Abrahammys  dayis, 
As  off  that  the  story  sayis. 

The  Secound  Buke  sail  be  fra  than, 
Quhill  Brutus  come  in  Mare  Bretan, 
The  wys  can  the  story  telle, 
Quhen  Jugis  jugyd  Israelle. 

The  Thryde  sail  contynwyde  be, 
Quhille  made  of  Eome  wes  the  cite  ; 
That  wes  quhen  Achas  Kyng 
Judam  hade  in  gowernyng,  20 

And  the  prophet  Ysay 
Made  and  prechide  hys  Prophecy. 


10  THE  CRONYKIL  [B.  I. 

Fol.  2.  b.         The  Ferde,  tyll  the  Incarnatyown, 
That  made  oure  Salvatyowne  ; 
And  Octovyane  wytht  honoure 
Off'  all  the  warlde  was  Emprioure. 

The  Fyft,  quhyll  the  Scottis 
Put  out  of  Scotland  the  Pychtis ; 
That  wes  in  to  gret  Charlys  dayis, 
As  off"  that  the  Corneklis  sayis.  30 

The  Sext,  quhill  that  Malcolme  ras, 
That  weddyt  wytht  Saynt  Margret  was. 

The  Sewynd,  quhylle  Alysawndyre,  oure  Kyng 
The  thryde,  of  hys  dayis  made  endyng. 

The  Auchtande,  quhyle  the  tothir  Robert 
Oure  Kyng  wes  crownyde  efterwert. 

The  Nynde  sail  contynuyde  be 
In  hym,  and  hys  posteryte. 


CHAP.   II. 

[ODff  JlngtUi0,  n0to  sail  gh.e  heir 
In  thi0  follxrtoattb  nirt 


Gregor  in  ane  Omely 
Thus  sayis  of  Angelys  opynly  ;  40 

The  kynde  of  angelys  and  of  men 
God  made  of  noucht  hym  for  tyll  ken  ; 
And  for  he  walde  that  kynde  sulde  be 
Ay  lestand  in  eternyte, 
Tyll  hys  schape  and  hys  lyklynes, 


CH.  IIL]  OF  SCOTLAND.  II 

i 
Man  and  angell  fourmyd  wes. 

Off  angelys  ordrys  thrys  thre, 

In  tyll  hys  wryt  rehersys  he. 

The  name  of  angelys  for  to  dewys 

Is  noucht  of  kynd  bot  of  offys  ;  50 

Ane  messynger  sulde  ane  angell  be 

Quhen  chargyde  oucht  to  say  is  he. 

Angelis  yhe  may  spyritis  call, 

Bot  angelis  ar  noucht  thare  spyritis  all. 

Thre  Angelis  we  fynd  wsuall 

Tyttlyde  be  namys  spirytualle. 

The  fyrst  cald  is  Mychaell, 

Gabryell  syne,  and  Kaphaell. 

Off  Angelis  nature  and  thare  state 

I  trowe  fer  bettyr  than  I  wate,  60 

And  bettyr  is  that  we  all  comend 

Tyll  Gode  that  we  can  noucht  defende, 

Syn  na  thyng  is  that  he  na  may 

Than  folyly  we  sulde  oucht  say, 

That  may  noucht  in  ws  consaywyde  be, 

Na  prowyde  be  auctoryte, 

For-thi  fra  this  I  turne  my  style, 

Off  Mankynde  for  to  carpe  a  quhylle. 


CHAP.   III. 


[l)0to  dtob  matb  JUiam  zmb  (Eixe  ht0  maik, 
hxrto  ^e  fxrr  hiss  spite  ink  toraik.] 


0 


'FF  Adame  oure  orygynale, 
And  all  oure  kynde  is  cummyn  hale,  70 

That  in  the  felde  of  Damask  fayre, 


12  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  I. 

Off  nature  and  off  nobyll  ayre, 
Or  in  the  wale  of  Ebron, 
As  sum  haldis  opynyon, 
Lyk  made  to  Gode  and  schapyne  wes 
In  Hys  schape  and  Hys  lyklynes, 
And  say  fourmyde  at  dewys 
Translatyde  wes  in  Paradys  ; 
And  thare  lywand  in  that  schape 

Fol.  3.        Slepand  quhylle  he  tuk  a  nape,  80 

Out  of  hys  syde  wes  tane  a  ryb, 
Thar  of  tyll  [him]  bathe  lyke  and  sybe 
That  woman  wes  made  that  Eve  we  call, 
For  scho  wes  modyr  of  ws  all. 
Than  thaire  state  wes  innocent, 
And  all  thyng  bowyd  tyll  thair  entent. 
And  name  till  bestis  Adame  gawe, 
Swylk  as  yhit  thai  halde  and  hawe ; 
And  Eve  he  cald  thare  a  woman, 
Syn  scho  wes  of  hys  fles  and  bane.  90 

Off  matrymony  the  sacryment 
Than  rase  in  that  state  innocent, 
And  of  all  thyngis  at  thare  plesance 
Thai  hade  large  abowndance ; 
Quhill  that  thai  bathe  brokyn  hade, 
The  byddyng  that  God  thaim  bade, 
And  myskend  thare  Creatoure. 
Than  fell  thai  swne  fra  gret  honoure, 
Kennand  that  thai  nakid  ware, 
And  of  clethyng  gret  mystare ;  100 

Thai  wroucht  nothir  lynt  na  wowlle 
Bot  levys  of  the  tre  can  powle, 
Quhare-of  array  wes  made  that  tyde, 
Thair  nakyde  membrys  for  tyll  hyde ; 


CH.  in.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  13 

And  wes  put  out  of  Paradys, 
A  propyr  place  at  all  dewys, 
Abowndande  in  all  delyte, 
Bathe  of  plesaunce,  and  profyte, 
Off  froyte,  and  foule,  and  feldis  fayre, 
Off  arbuste,  erbys,  and  of  ayre,  110 

Off  buskis,  bankkis,  and  of  bewys, 
Off  clyfftis,  craggis,  and  of  cluys  ; 
The  tre  of  lyf  thare-in  is  set, 
Off  that  froyt  quha  mycht  get 
He  sulde  in  lyf  ay  lestand  be, 
But  seknes  or  mortalyte. 
This  terrestre  Paradys 
In  to  the  est  of  Asy  lyis  : 
Quhen  Adam  wes  wythin  that  quhille 
Put  out  of  that  stede  in  exile,  120 

To  kepe  it  than,  and  lat  nane  in, 
Before  it  set  wes  Cherubyn 
(lhat  may  be  wndyrstandyn  rycht 
A  stwff  of  angelis  blyth  and  brycht), 
And  a  swerd  as  fyre  all  rede 
Wes  set  thare  als  to  kepe  that  stede ; 
Wythin  that  propyre  place,  but  pere, 
Thare  is  a  welle  of  wattyr  clere. 
Out  of  that  welle  cummys  fludis  foure 
Till  moyst  the  erde  quhar  thai  ryn  oure ;  130 

Ane  of  thir  watterys  is  cald  Ganges, 
Syne  Tyger,  Nyle,  and  Ewfrates. 
Kyle  wes  hattyn  Gyon 
As  Ganges  fyrst  wes  calde  Phison. 
In  Paradys  thai  ar  wnkend 
Bot  wytht-out  thai  brek  on  ende, 
At  the  hylle  of  Oskobares  ; 


14  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  I. 

In  Ynde  the  hewyde  is  of  Ganges 
Agayne  the  est  the  streme  is  gane, 
Swa  ry nnand  in  the  Occeane,  1 40 

Fol.  3.  b.      Be-syd  ane  hylle  is  cald  Accland, 

Off  Nyle  the  ryware  is  spryngande ; 
Bot  syne  the  erde  it  swellis  in, 
Quhar  throucht  all  hyd  it  oysis  to  ryn 
[It]  brystys  out  syne  at  the  strande 
That  by  the  Rede  Se  lyis  strykande. 
All  Ethiop  it  rynnys  a-bowt, 
And  throucht  all  Egypt  rynnys  out ; 
Departyde  syne  in  fyffe  and  twa 
Syndry  partis  rynnys  swa,  1 50 

By  Alexawnder  that  cite 
It  entrys  in  the  Mykyll  Se. 
Tyger  syne,  and  Ewfrates, 
Off  Armeny  thai  tak  thair  res ; 
Agayne  the  sowtht  thai  ar  rynnand 
Swa  to  the  Se  thare  streme  strekand. 
Hard  wyth  raankynde  than  it  stude 
Adam  worthyde  to  wyne  his  fude 
Off  the  Erde,  that  waryde  wes, 
In  hys  werk  and  his  besynes,  160 

And  wytht  his  swat  till  ete  hys  brede, 
Drywand  hys  lyf  till  dulefulle  dede. 


CH.  iv.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  15 


CHAP.   IV. 

(Ehapittc  0all  ghsto  ttU 
l)0to  (Eagin  hjjfif  JJtabgr  0Uto  Jtbell. 


V_/N  Eve  Adam  gat  sonnys  twa, 

Kayin  and  Abell  callid  war  tha  ; 

How  that  thai  lywyde,  and  on  quhat  wys, 

To  God  thai  made  thair  sacrifice, 

Abell  wytht  gude  devotioune, 

Kayin  wyth  indignatyoune, 

The  Bybyll  tellys  it  opynly, 

Thar-for  I  lat  it  nowe  ga  by  :  1  70 

Bot  the  sawmpyll  is  rycht  fellowne, 

Quha  doys  noucht  wytht  devotyoune 

Hys  det  to  God,  in  hys  serwys, 

Offerand  teynd  or  sacrifice, 

Bot  makis  hys  excusatyone 

Wyth  ire  and  indignatyowne  ; 

Howe  may  he  Ink  tyll  other  end 

Than  Kayin  dyde,  bot  gyve  he  mende, 

Will  and  wawerand  to  be  ay 

In  dowt  and  dwle  till  his  end  day  180 

Off  quham  that  may  hym  fynde  of  case 

In  hyddlys  or  in  opyn  plase, 

Cowardly  to  tak  hys  dede, 

Disparyde  of  all  gud  remede. 


16  THE  CRONYKIL  [B.  I. 


CHAR   V. 


ini0  jjeneratimnu. 

.  HIS  Kayin  to  sone  Enok  gat, 
The  quhilk  gat  Jarede,  efter  that 
Enoch  a  towne  gert  byggyt  be, 
And  gart  call  Enoch  that  cite  : 
This  Jarede  gat  Mawlaliale, 

The  quhilk  that  gat  Matussaele :  190 

Matussaele  he  gat  Lamech ; 
Quha  that  likys  of  hym  to  spek, 
He  wes  the  fyrst  fand  bygamy, 
Throucht  lykyug  lust  and  lychery ; 
Tyll  hym  alane  wes  wywys  twa, 
That  Ade  wes  callyde,  and  Sella. 
Fol.  4.         He  wes  the  fyrste  at  schot  in  bo  we, 
Wyth  vyre  or  bolt  or  wyth  arowe. 
Swa  happnyd  as  he  faylhyde  lycht, 
For  eeld  had  myrknyd  all  hys  sycht,  200 

A  chyld  bade  hym  he  sulde  draw  nere, 
Quhar  that,  he  sayde,  he  sawe  a  dere ; 
Wytht  that  the  takyll  wp  he  drewe, 
And  wytht  that  schot  he  Kayin  slewe, 
That  lurkand  lay  in  tyll  a  buske ; 
Than  tyll  that  boy  he  gawe  a  ruske, 
All  brayne-wode  in  to  that  stede, 
He  dang  hym  wytht  hys  bowe  to  dede. 

This  Lamech  Jabel  gat  on  Ade ; 
He  wes  the  fyrst  at  gart  be  made  210 


CH.  v.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  17 

Tentys  to  be  borne  a-bowte, 

As  catell  lesowyde  in  and  oute, 

Quhar  hyrdys  mycht  in  herbry  be, 

Nycht  and  day,  to  kepe  thare  fe. 

He  gert  dissewyr  fyrst  and  kepe, 

As  yhe  se  now,  the  gayt  fra  schepe. 

The  brukyd  bestys  and  the  wayre 

He  gert  depart  fra  quhyt  and  fayre. 

The  yhownge  he  partyde  fra  the  awlde 

And  oysyde  thaim  to  bowcht  and  f awlde.  220 

Syne  be  craft  and  be  delyte 

Off  mylk  and  wole  he  gat  profyte. 

This  Lamek  gat  on  Ade  wyth  all 
Ane  othyr  sowne  wes  callyde  Jubal. 
The  story  gerrys  ws  wndyrstande, 
He  wes  the  fyrst  at  musyke  fande 
Wyth  hammerys  clynkand  on  a  stythy, 
Quhar  men  war  wyrkand  in  a  smythy. 
Jubal,  quhen  he  herd  Adam  tel 
In  prophecy,  as  efter  felle,  230 

That  fyre  and  flwde  sulde  all  oure-ga 
And  wndo  that  thai  mycht  oure-ta ; 
Off  swylk  matyr  as  he  hade 
He  gert  twa  pillars  sune  be  made  : 
Off  tylde  or  plastyr  wes  the  tane 
The  tothir  wes  made  of  marbyll  stane, 
The  tane  to  sawffe  be  fra  the  flwde, 
The  tother  fra  fyre  thoucht  it  war  wowde ; 
And  in  tha  twa  he  gart  full  tyt, 
All  the  art  of  musyke  wryte,  240 

Swa  that  it  mycht  haldyn  be 
Wnfaylland  in  posteryte. 
Josephus  sayis,  in  tyll  his  buke, 
VOL.  I.  B 


18  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  I. 

Qwha  can  well  that  story  luke, 
That  yhit  in  to  [the]  Surry  lande 
The  pyllare  of  marbyll  is  standand. 

This  Lameke  gat  yhit  on  Sella 
Twbalkayin  and  Noe'ma. 
Twbalkayin  delytyt  haile. 

Be  oysyde  craft  to  wyrk  mettalle.  250 

Irne  and  stele,  lede  and  tyn, 
To  yhet,  or  bete,  or  grawe  thairin. 
Hys  systyr  than  cald  Nbe'ma 
Scho  begowth  on  hand  to  ta 
Wewyng  that  nevyr  than  before 
Wes  oysyd  be  cavale  na  reduore. 

Off  Kayniys  generatioune, 
Na  off  thar  successyowne, 
Is  na  ma  fyndyn  in  story, 

Thar-for  I  lat  thaime  now  ga  by.  260 

Fol.  4.  b.     Sum  story  sayis  that  Noeys  flu.de 

Drownyd  thaim  that  tym  that  lywand  stude. 


CHAP.   VI. 


(Dff  <Sethi0  Qtntx&iiaimz  htxt 
Jfcxt  tcrl0tos0  in  tht0  Chapiter*. 


A 


.DAM  murnyd  a  hundyr  yhere 
Abel  hys  swnnys  slauchter  dere, 
And  quhen  that  slawchtyr  wes  foryhettyn 
On  Eve  Adam  Seth  has  gettyn : 
Seth  gat  Enos  that  oysyde  to  call 
On  Gode,  in  till  hys  dedys  all, 
In  prayer  and  in  orysowne 


CH.  VL]  OF  SCOTLAND.  19 

And  specyalle  devotyown.  270 

Enos  gat,  the  buke  can  tell, 

Caynan,  that  gat  Malalyell ; 

Malaliel  he  Jeryt  gat, 

The  quhilk  gat  Enoch  efter  that. 

This  Enoch  fand,  as  I  herd  tell, 

Fyrst  wyth  lettyrys  for  tyll  spell, 

And  syne  he  tuk  in  tyll  delyte 

To  sett  togyddyr  faste  and  wryte. 

In  tyll  hys  tyme  bukys  he  wrate 

That  drownyde  ware  in  Noeys  spate.  280 

Tyll  God  he  wes  in  all  plesand 

Tharfor  he  is  yhit  quyk  ly wand, 

Bydand  the  Antecrystyes  come 

Befor  the  mykyll  day  of  dome. 

Off  Enok  come  Matussale, 

Off  quham  Lamek  that  gat  Noe. 

Nowe  the  fyrst  Eeld  endys  here 
In  to  the  quhilk  ar,  yher  be  yhere, 
Sexten  hundyr  sexty  and  sewyn, 
Gyff  that  the  Hebrewys  rekknes  ewyn  290 

The  ten  and  sexty  Clerkes  wys, 
As  thai  fynd  in  thare  storys 
Twa  thowsand  and  twa  hundyre  yhere, 
And  four  and  fourty  passyd  ar  clere 
Thai  oysyd  to  cownt  in  thare  reknyng 
£         Than  fra  the  warldys  begynnyng 
Gyff  ony  letterys  than  thai  wrate 
Thar  oys  wes  than  to  set  thaire  date  ; 
As  we  now  fra  the  byrtht  of  God 
Eeknys  yherys  ewyn  or  od,  300 

Swa  reknyd  thai  in  thaire  cowntyng 
Than  fra  the  Warldys  begynnyng. 


20  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  I. 


CHAP.   VII. 

(Ehapitm  tdiis  on  ©eatonbi0 
#P*tbe  in 


IN  TYLL  this  tyme  at  I  off  telle 
Was  Geawndys  walkand  fers  and  fell 
That  lyk  tyll  men  ware  in  fygure, 
Bot  thai  war  largear  of  stature. 
On  quhat  kyn  wys  and  quhat  manere 
Thir  ilk  geawndis  gottyn  were, 
Syn  syndry  haldys  oppynyown, 
I  wyll  mak  na  conclusyown.  310 

Sethys  swnnys,  sum  oysyde  to  say, 
Luwyde  Kayinys  dowchtrys,  stowt  and  gay, 
And  gat  on  thaim  bodely 
Thir  geawndis  that  worthyde  sa  forssy  ; 
Or  syndry  spyrytys  on  thair  wys 
F°l-  5.         Slepande  women  walde  supprys 

Wyth  maystry,  qweyntys,  or  wyth  slycht, 

That  gat  thir  geawndis  mykyll  of  mycht. 

Bot  howe  that  ever  thai  gottyn  be 

Geawndys  name  in  propyrte,  320 

Off  the  erde  is  halely 

That  Geos  wyttnesys  werraly. 

The  Grekys  in  thar  langage  all 

Geos  the  Erde  thai  oysyd  to  call. 

All  thare  sort  that  lywande  stude 

Drownyd  war  in  Noeys  nude. 

Sum  men  haldys  oppynnyown 

That  in  the  wale  of  Hebrown 


CH.  VIL]  OF  SCOTLAND.  21 

Eftyr  that  grewe  geawndis  ma' 

In  Egypte  sum  men  sayd  alsua,  330 

Geawndis  grewe,  and  [of]  that  kynd 

Come  Enathym,  and  off  hys  strynd 

Come  Golyath,  that  Davy  yhyng 

Slewe  wyth  the  stane  cast  of  a  slyng. 

Thai  past  and  spred  fra  land  to  land, 
And  Brwyt  in  Bretayne  of  thaim  fand 
Coryne  that  of  hys  cumpany 
West  mast,  and  aucht  the  seyhnowry  : 
Off  Cornwalle  fyrst  had  grete  lykyng 
To  cast  thai  early s  in  werslyng.  340 

Amang  [thame]  wes  ane  mykyll  of  mycht 
Goemagog  hys  name  wes  rycht. 
Ane  ake  wes  na  mare  in  hys  hand 
Than  now  in  owrys  ane  hesylle  wand ; 
He  wes  twelf  cubytys  large  of  hycht, 
Ane  half  elue  is  the  cubyt  rycht. 
He  come  wyth  geawyndys  hale  twenty, 
On  Brwtus  and  hys  cumpany, 
Bot  yhit  Coryne  that  tyme  was 
Noucht  wytht  Brwtus  in  that  plas,  350 

Bot  Brwtus  wytht  thame  faucht  swa  fast, 
Quhyll  thai  war  wencust  at  the  last ; 
Thar  Goemagog  wes  tane 
And  haldyn  quhyk  be  hym  allane, 
To  se  how  that  this  Coryne 
Walde  dele  wyth  hym  in  to  werslyng ; 
And  as  thai  met  fyrst  in  thare  gamyn 
Ilkane  brassyd  othir  samyn 
Sa  fast,  that  frek  that  Coryne  thrystyd 
Till  in  hys  syde  thre  rybbys  brystyde.  360 

Coryne  than  wyth  all  hys  mycht 


22  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  I. 

Heyly  hewyde  that  hwlk  on  hycht, 
And  tyll  a  crag  that  wes  neir  by 
He  bare  hym  fast  and  spedily 
That  swayne  he  swakyde  cure  that  hycht, 
That  on  hys  crown  he  gert  hym  lycht 
Sa  doggidly  hyin  downe  he  dwyhsyde, 
Till  bak  and  bowalys  all  to  brussyde. 
Off  Geawndis  wyll  I  na  mare  telle, 
Thare  endyng  thws  in  Bretayne  fell.  370 


CHAP.   VIII. 

In  this  (Ehapitere  refo  anb  % 
JUke,  mtb  tht  <Spate  oi 


OE  wes  a  man  rycht  wys, 
Perfyt  and  lele  at  all  dewys. 
He  fand  fyrst  throucht  hys  sutylte 
How  wyne  sulde  growe  and  wynnyn  be. 
Quhen  mannys  thoucht  wes  gywyn  till  ill 
And  drawyn  all  fra  Goddys  wyll, 
Fol.  5.  b.    He  wyst  at  thare  walde  fall  a  Flude 
All  tyll  wndo  that  lywand  stude. 
To  sawffe  hym  and  hys  swnnys  thre, 
Thair  wywys  foure,  but  ma  menyhe,  380 

He  gert,  of  Goddis  byddyng,  mak 
Ane  ark  in  maner  of  ane  stak, 
That  in  owre  tyme  oysyde  we 
The  schype  to  call  it  of  Noe, 
Thowcht  on  hycht  it  narowe  wes 
Wndyr  rowme  of  mare  larges. 
The  Hebrewys  sayis  the  sewynten  day 


CH,  VIIL]  OF  SCOTLAND.  23 

Off  that  moneth  at  we  call  May, 

Sex  hundyr  yhere  quhen  he  was  awld, 

Noe,  that  we  off  befor  taulde,  390 

And  the  sewyn  rekkynde  ware, 

In  to  that  schyppe  all  entryd  are. 

Off  byrde  and  best,  bathe  wylde  and  tame, 

Payr  be  payr,  and  name  be  name, 

As  he  byddyng  had  clerly, 

In  tyll  that  schype  he  gart  herbiy. 

Ane  hundyr  dayis  and  fyfty  gude 

The  wattyris  wox  as  thai  war  woude 

Off  wellys  waveryde  wawys  wyde 

Oure  hyrne  and  hyrst,  fra  syd  to  syde,  400 

Belyde  boggys  than  out  brystyd 

And  ranys  rethe  be-for  that  rystyde, 

Fowrty  dayis  wytht  forsys  fell 

Schot  out  thare  schowrys,  scharp  and  snell, 

Bath  felde  and  fyrth  oure-flet  that  nude 

And  wndyde  all  that  it  oure-yhoude. 

That  schype  wes  drywyn  oure  hyllis  hie 

Tyll  on  the  hycht  of  Armeney 

Grownd  it  tuk  instede  off  hawyn. 

Than  Noe  fyrst  send  furth  the  rawyn,  410 

Till  get  wyttyng  and  knawlage 
Gyf  that  the  flude  begowth  to  swage. 
Bot  that  sendyng  wes  in  wayne, 
To  schype  that  foule  came  noucht  agayne ; 
Bot  fell  on  caryown  all  gredy, 
Swa  saw  he  no  mare  of  corby. 
The  dow  he  send  furth  anys  or  twyis, 
As  wyttnessyde  is  in  sere  storys, 
And  that  broucht  in  hyr  beke  belywe 
A  brawnche  agayne  of  greyne  olywe,  420 


24  THE  CKONYKIL  [B.  I. 

Be  that  thai  kend  and  wndyrstude 
In  part  that  swaygyd  wes  the  flude. 
The  schype  has  left  and  land  has  tane, 
That  ilk  day  a  yhere  cure  gayne 
That  thai  yhede  that  schype  wythtin, 
Man  and  best,  bath  mare  and  meyn. 
The  rayne-bowe  wyth  hewys  twa, 
Eed  and  wattery  baytht  ar  tha, 
And  at  the  fyrst  wes  seyne  wyth  ey ; 
Owth  thaim  in  the  clowdys  hey.  430 

Than  Noe  made  hys  sacrifice, 
Plesand  to  God,  as  man  rychtvys. 
Froyt  and  gyrs  thai  oysyd  tyll  ete 
As  kers,  or  mawe,  or  wyolete, 
Nwt,  or  appyl,  or  akhorne ; 
Swylk  wes  the  lyf  thai  led  beforne. 
Than  thai  tuk  wpe  to  thaire  fwde 
For  tyll  ete  fleyhs  forowtyn  blude ; 
Fol.  6.       Eostyt,  sodyn,  or  in  paste, 

As  thaim  thoucht  best  and  daynte  mast,  440 

And  lyve  in  lykyn  and  in  es, 
Allanyrly  bot  Gode  to  pies, 
At  swa  thaire  generatyown 
Mycht  sprede  in  tyll  successyown. 

It  hapnyde  eftyr  on  a  day 
This  Noe  drownkyn  slepand  lay, 
For  off  the  wyne  he  wonyd  hade, 
He  drank  swa  fast  that  he  wes  glede, 
And  nakyde  wes  hys  harnays  hare, 
Bak  and  buttoke  bath  wes  bare.  450 

I  suppos,  quha  than  walde  seke 
Amang  thaim  all  wes  noucht  a  breke. 
Than  Cam,  that  wes  the  myddyll  brothyr, 


CH.  ix.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  25 

Saw  fyrst  hym  before  all  othir ; 

He  lewch  rycht  fast  and  wald  noucht  byde 

Hys  fadrys  membrys  for  tyll  hyde, 

Bot  grynnyd  and  gapyde  wytht  hys  gwmys, 

And  skornyd  fast  his  fadyr  lumys. 

The  tothir  twa,  quhen  thai  come  by 

And  sawe  thare  fadyr  swa-gat  ly,  460 

Wytht  eys  and  honowre  thai  hym  kepid, 

And  cwveryde  hym  quhille  he  had  slepid. 

Quhen  that  Noe  gat  wyttyng 
That  Came  had  drywyn  hym  tyll  heythyng, 
He  gawe  hys  maledictiowne 
Till  Camys  generatyowne ; 
And  Sem  hys  [eldast]  swn  sulde  be 
Lorde  of  Canaan,  and  he 
Tyll  Sem  and  Japhet  in  threllage 
Sulde  serve,  and  mak  thaim  bath  omage.  470 

In  [this]  prys  begowth  to  payre 
Syn  Kam  wes  eldest  nest  the  ayre 
That  he  suld  serve  the  yhowyngyr  brothir, 
Fol.  6.       Howe  evyr  it  happnyd  off  the  othire. 


CHAP.   IX. 

Chapiter  n0to  0all  tell  hale 
:prittapale. 


,  Cam,  and  Japhet,  thre, 
Thir  ware  the  swnnys  of  Noe. 
Off  thir  come  men  of  mekyll  mycht, 
Tyll  statys  growande  and  tyll  hycht, 
And  generaly  of  all  kyn  gre 


26  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  I. 

All  kynd  of  men  come  of  thir  thre.  480 

Off  Sem  that  wes  the  eldest  brothir 

Presthed  come  befor  all  othir. 

Sum  that  oysyde  of  hym  to  spek 

Sayde  he  wes  that  Melchysedek. 

That  offryde  tyll  Abraham  wyne  and  brede 

Quhen  the  kyngys  foure  war  dede 

The  quhilkys  Abraham  swa  perswyde 

Hys  brothir  swn  quhill  reskwyde. 

Quha  lukys  the  Bybille  merely 

Off  this  may  fynd  a  fayr  story.  490 

Off  Semys  generatyown, 
Be  lyneale  successyown, 
Wes  Jhesu  Cryst  of  Mary  borne 
Tyll  sawffe  oure  lyff  that  wes  forlorne. 
Off  Came  the  nixt,  for  hys  owtrage, 
Fol.  6.  b.     Come  serwytywde  and  foule  threllage. 
Off  Japhet  the  yhongast  of  tha  thre 
Fyrst  come  knychtys  dignite. 
Thir  awcht  the  landys  halyly 
Off  Affryk,  Ewrope,  and  Asy,  500 

And  the  foure  Kynrykys  pryncypalle 
Be  thare  successyowne  lynealle 
Wes  occupyid ;  and  Belus  kyng 
Made  in  the  Est  hys  fyrst  steryng. 
And  that  than  was  halily 
The  kynryk  callyde  off  Assyry, 
And  in  the  west  art  syne  anone, 
The  kynryk  ras  of  Sycyone. 
Bot  eftyr  that  to  name  it  hade, 
In  Grece  the  lordschype  of  Archade.  510 

Thare  Agelyus  fyrst  wes  kyng 
Had  it  hale  in  gowernyng. 


CH.  x.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  27 

In  the  north  art  of  Sythy 

Caspnyus  had  the  senyhoury. 

Myneus  kyng  in  the  south  art, 

Tuk  all  Egipte  till  hys  part. 

In  thir  foure  partis  severale 

Thir  Kynrykys  pryncipale 

Wndyr  thir  four  kyngys  ras 

Qwhen  Noeyis  flud  all  swagide  was  ;  520 

And  grew  in  gret  mycht  mony  yhere, 

Part  of  thaim  syne  chawngide  were 

In  othir  kynrykis  severale, 

As  thai  begowth  off  cas  to  fale. 


CHAR   X. 

Chapiter  tdlt0  koto  -parabi0e, 
athir 


JL 


YLL  Sem,  as  eldast,  halily 
Fell  all  the  landis  of  Asy, 
That  fra  the  northt  throucht  est  out-strekys 
In  tyll  the  sowth  quhyll  that  it  rekys  : 
The  Erd  swa  delt  in  twa  partys 
Asy  the  tane  half  occupyis  ;  530 

The  tothir  part  than  delt  in  twa, 
Ewrope  haldys  and  Affryca  ; 
As  men  may  be  a  roundale  se 
Markyd  to  be  delt  in  thre. 
In  to  the  [est  of]  Asy  lyis 
That  propyr  plas  of  Paradys, 
The  quhilk  is  cerklyd  wytht-out 
Wytht  wallys  of  fyre  beltyde  abowt, 


28  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  I. 

And  kepyde  swa  wytht  Cherubyn 
That  ly vand  man  may  nane  get  in.  540 

[Cherubin  is  to  saye,  ane  ost 
Of  Angellis  that  it  kepis,  but  bost.] 
Be-twene  Ynde  and  Paradys 
Desert  landys  mony  lyis, 
Wytht  holmys,  holtys,  and  wyth  hyllys, 
Till  corne  or  crope  that  na  man  teyllys ; 
For  bestys  wylde,  batht  fers  and  felle, 
F-  7.       Is  nane  of  lywe  that  thar  dar  duelle. 
Out  of  ane  hylle  cald  Caucasus 
The  wattyr  is  rynnande  of  Indus,  550 

[And  eftir  that  watter,  as  we  fynd, 
The  kynrik  is  callit  of  Ynd]. 
Era  north  on  sowth  the  streme  it  strekys 
In  tyll  the  Kede  Se'quhille  it  rekys. 
Yndys  Occeane,  that  Se 
The  west  marche  of  Ynde  sulde  be. 
Fyrst  it  was  calde  Eivlat, 
And  syne  the  name  of  Ynde  it  gat, 
For  the  wattyre  of  Yndus 

Eynnys  throucht  it  fra  Cawcasus,  560 

[And  enteris  in  the  Oceane.] 
The  gret  He  lyis  of  Taperbane 
Wytht-in  that  lie  ar  citeis  ten 
Stuffyt  wytht  catelle,  gud,  and  men. 
Thar  twa  sumniyrys  in  the  yhere 
And  twa  wyntrys  ar,  but  were, 
And  all  tyme  that  He  is  sene 
Wytht  gyrs  growand  ewynlyk  grene. 

Thar  lyis  als  wythin  that  se, 

The  ilys  of  Kryn  and  Argwe  ;  570 

Thai  twa  ilys,  as  thai  say, 


CH.  x.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  29 

Off  silvyr  ar  habowndand  ay, 

And  of  gold  in  gret  copy, 

And  flwryssys  alway  dayntely. 

Hyllys  he  off  golde  ar  thare, 

Bot  gryphys  gret  nerhande  thaim  ar, 

And  dragownys ;  quharfor  na  man  may 

Cum  nere  thaim  thar  be  nycht  or  day. 

In  Ynde  als  thai  sulde  be 

The  ile  of  Caspis  in  the  Se,  580 

And  the  hylle  that  lyis  it  by 

That  ilke  name  has  propyrly. 

Thar  Gog  and  Magog,  at  felown  wes, 

Closyt  ar  in  gret  straytnes. 

Quhen  Alysawndyr,  the  mychty  kyng, 

By  that  plas  mad  hys  passyng 

Wytht  hys  ost,  as  man  off  were, 

Thai  closyde  than  maid  hym  prayere, 

That  for  hys  wyrschype  thai  mycht  be, 

Owt  of  that  presown  lowsyd  fre.  590 

Than  he  speryd  and  herd  wele  telle 

That  fra  thare  God  of  Israel 

Thai  chawngyd  fawsly  thare  fay, 

And  closyd  tharfor  thar  war  thai ; 

He  prewyde  wytht  werk-men  than  thraly 

Thare  in  to  steke  thaim  mare  straitly. 

And  quhen  he  saw  all  that  thai  wroucht 

Till  hys  intent  yhit  suffycyde  it  noucht, 

He  mad  tyll  God  hys  wrysowne, 

One  kneys  wytht  gud  devotyoune,  600 

That  that  werk  he  walde  fulfyll 

Till  hys  lykynyng  and  hys  wylle. 

At  hys  prayere  than,  but  dowt, 

All  the  hillys  thar  a-bowt, 


30  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  I. 

The  craggys,  and  the  rockys  all, 
F.  7.  b.      Crape  to-gyddyre  in  ane  walle 
Befor  thaim,  that  be  na  way 
Wyne  out  of  that  place  mycht  thai, 
Bot  mare  stratly  thai  war  thare 
Than  closyde  na  befor  thai  ware  ;  610 

And  be  that  myrakyll  lyk  it  was 
That  God  walde  noucht  at  thai  sulde  pas 
Out  off  that  closure,  bot  yhit  thai 
Sail  get  out  befor  Domysdaye, 
And  mekyll  way  in  warld  sail  wyrk 
Agayne  the  la  we  of  Haly  kyrke. 

Syne  God  of  mycht  inclynyd  was 
Thus  tyll  a  pagane,  of  hys  gras, 
Quhat  walde  he  for  ws  all  set, 
Gyff  we  tyll  hym  walde  do  oure  det ;  620 

Bot  fra  hys  wyll  quhen  that  we  wryth, 
Quhy  sulde  he  hys  gracys  kyth, 
Till  ws,  in  oure  necessytej 
Oure  in  til  bale  owre  bute  sulde  be, 
Na  ware  hys  mercy  gret  exced 
Owre  gylt  and  all  oure  wrangwys  dede  ; 
And  swa,  for  oure  gret  wrechydnes, 
We  mon  declyne  hys  rychtwysnes, 
And  on  his  mekyll  mercy  call 
In  oure  defawt  quhen  that  we  fall.  630 

For  mercy  and  rychtwys  jugement 
Ar  in  hym  bath,  but  argument. 
For-thi,  we  sulde  have  dowt  and  awe 
To  leve  hys  byddyng  and  hys  lawe, 
And  yheld  ws  fekyll  fals  in  fay, 
Wrythand  in  tyl  werk  alway, 
For  dowt  that  or  we  ws  repent 


CH.  x.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  31 

We  mon  appere  in  jugement, 
And  to  cry  mercy,  is  toe  late 
The  wayne,  than  standand  at  the  yhat.  640 

In  Ynde  are  landys  fourty  and  fowre 
Quha  that  sekys  it  all  at-oure ; 
And  thar  ar  folk  that  callyde  was 
Garnyanys  and  Orastas, 
Cotras  thar  woddys  fayr, 
Rekys  on  hycht  wp  tyll  the  ayre ; 
In  tyll  the  hyllis  of  that  land 
The  pigmaveis  ar  duelland 
That  has  bot  cubytys  twa  of  hycht. 
And  oft  wyll  wytht  the  crannys  fycht.  650 

Quhen  thai  ar  thre  yhere  awlde,  but  let, 
Thair  barnys  all  thai  bere  and  get ; 
And  aucht  yhere  thai  ma  noucht  weylde, 
Thair  wapnys  for  febyll  heylde ; 
Thare  pepyre  growys  that  off  hewe 
Is  qwhyt  quhill  it  is  growand  newe. 
Bot  for  eddrys  that  ar  thare, 
Off  wenyme  and  stangys  sare, 
Thar  is  na  man  that  may  it  wyne 
Wyth  a  fyre  quhill  thai  it  bryne,  660 

Swa  wytht  that  rek  thai  oys  to  make 
Owt  off  qwhyt  hew  this  pepyr  blak. 
Thare  ar  folk  sex  elne  of  hycht, 
Makrobitys  thai  ar  callyde  rycht ; 
Fol.  8.         Thai  oysis  oft  for  tyll  assayhle 

The  gryphys  in  fycht  and  hard  batyhle. 

To  lyownys  lyk  ar  thare  body, 

And  naylys  scharpe  hawys  certanly ; 

And  weyngys  als  thai  hawe,  but  were, 

As  yhe  se  ernys  hawand  here.  670 


32  THE  CKONYKIL  [B.  I. 

Agroit  thare  and  Bragmanyis 

Leddys  thare  lyff  on  ferly  wys  ; 

For  in  a  fyre  thai  wyll  thaim  bryn, 

Thynkand  a  bettyr  lyff  to  wyn. 

Thar  sum  wyll  thare  eldrys  sla, 

Quhen  eelde  thaim  hapnys  tyl  our-ta, 

And  sethys  the  fleyhs,  and  gerrys  the  kyn 

Gaddryde  be,  bath  mare  and  myn, 

And  ettys  syne  halily. 

A  the  fleyhs  of  that  body,  680 

And  quha  that  forsakys  till  et 

Off  that  fleyhs,  he  sail,  but  let, 

Be  forsakyn  off  kyne 

Newyr  to  [be]  reknyde  in. 

Othyr  folk  thare  oysis  tyll  et 

All  rawe  fysch  that  thai  ma  get, 

And  drynkys  bot  wattyr  off  the  se, 

Quhethyr  it  salt  or  byttyr  be. 

Thare  ar  monstrys  mony  sere, 

Off  the  quhilk  are  nane  sene  here,  690 

That  nane  can  wyt  in  propyrte 

Quhethyr  thai  man  or  best  sulde  be. 

Sum  owth  thair  fete  thare  solys  ha  wys, 

And  on  ilke  fut  aucht  tayis  ; 

And  sum  wytht-in  thai  landys  thare 

Lyk  off  hewyd  tyll  hwndys  are, 

Wyth  naylys  scharpe,  and  thai  ar  cled     . 

In  bestys  skynnys,  bak  and  bed, 

Thaire  wocys,  quhen  thai  ar  spekand, 

Ar  lyk  tyll  doggys  ay  berkand :  700 

Sum  mudrys  in  that  land  alsua 

Berys  bot  anys,  and  all  tha 

Borne  thai  ar  qwhyt  of  canys, 


CH.  x.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  33 

Bathe  of  hewyd  and  berde  at  anys ; 

Ande  in  thare  eelde  agayne  thare  hare 

Worthys  blak  in  all  tyme  thare  ; 

And  of  eelde  yhit  mony  yhere 

Excedys  ws  that  lywys  here  : 

Thare  sum  berys  of  yherys  fywe, 

And  passys  noucht  aucht  yhere  of  lyve.  710 

Thar  ar  folk  callyde  Armaspy, 

And  havys  bot  ane  ey  certanly  : 

Thar  sum  folk  bot  a  fute  has, 

And  yhit  for  sped  the  dere  our-tays  ; 

And  quhen  thai  ly  on  erde  to  slepe, 

Fra  swne  and  weddyr  thaim  to  kepe, 

Than  that  a  fwt  wpe  thai  streke 

That  it  fra  thaim  the  weddyr  brek. 

Wytht-in  Ynde  in  tyll  sum  stede 
Thare  lywys  a  folk  wytht-owtyn  hede,  720 

And  in  the  fawt  of  thare  foret, 
Fol.  s.  b.     Twa  eyne  ar  in  thare  schuldrys  set ; 
And  in  thare  brestys  ar  holys  twa, 
In-stede  of  nes  and  mouth  ar  tha. 

Besyde  the  wattyr  of  Gangis, 
A  pupyll  thai  say  lywand  is 
But  othir  met  than  of  ayre  : 
Savorand  off  ane  appyll  fuyre, 
And  fele  thai  ony  stynk  wytht-out 
Thai  de*  tharof,  wytht-owtyn  dout ;  730 

And  quhen  thai  trawaill  owcht  in  fere 
Thai  wyll  wyth  thame  that  appyll  bere 
To  be  thare  mete  in  thare  trawaylle, 
In  fawt  of  fude  at  thai  noucht  fayle. 
Thare  serpentys  ar  sa  gret,  but  were, 
At  thai  wyll  suelly  wpe  a  dere, 
VOL.  I.  c 


34  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  I. 

And  wyll  swym  all  oure  that  s£ 
That  Yndys  Occeane  callid  we. 
In  to  that  land  thare  is  alsua 
A  best  thai  call  Cenocrata ;  740 

That  best  is'  lyk  of  body  made 
Tyll  ane  as,  bot  he  is  brade 
Off  brest  before,  and  in  fassown 
Off  lym  is  lyk  tyl  a  lyown, 
Tyll  ane  hors  lyk  ar  his  fet, 
And  has  ane  home  in  his  foret, 
Hys  mowyth  of  kynd  is  rywyn  wyde 
Era  ere  tyll  ere  on  ilk  syde  ; 
A  gret  bane,  thai  say,  has  he, 
In  that  stede  quhar  hys  teth  sulde  be,  750 

And  oysis  mekyll  in  hys  bere 
Syk  woycys  as  a  man  dois  here. 
In  to  that  land  thare  sulde  be 
Ane  othir  best  callyde  Gale, 
That  is  lyk  all  tyll  ane  hors, 
In  tyll  the  fassown  of  ane  cors, 
And  has  a  gret  tusk  as  a  bare, 
And  taylyd  as  elephawntys  are  ; 
And  in  hys  hewyde  has  hornys  twa, 
Ane  half  elne  lang,  ilkane  of  tha  ;  7 GO 

And  fyrst  he  oysis  wytht  the  tane 
Tyl  hald  wp  fychtyng  and  bargane  ; 
The  tothir  on  hys  bak  he  strekys 
Qwhille  he  that  blwntys,  or  he  brekys, 
And  syne  it  castys  on  his  bak,  , 

Than  wyll  he  wyth  the  tothir  mak 
Hys  bargane  furth,  and  wyth  tha  twa 
Hys  fycht  he  oysis  for  till  ma : 
He  is  a  best  of  mekyll  pytht, 


CH.  x.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  35 

And  wgly  blak  lie  is  thare  wytht.  770 

In  that  land  thare  is  alsua 
A  best  thai  call  Manticora, 
Off  wysage  thai  say  lyk  is  he 
Till  a  man  in  all  degre, 
Bot  the  teth  that  ar  wytht-in 
Hys  hewyde  ar  set  in  chestyr  thryn ; 
Off  cors  he  lyk  is  a  lyown, 
Hys  taylle  is  lyk  a  scorpyown  ; 
Hys  eyne  ar  yholowe,  and  [of]  hewe 

F-  9-          Is  blwde  rede,  and  elyke  ay  newe;  780 

Off  woyce  he  lyk  is  and  of  bere 
As  yhe  here  eddrys  quhysstyll  here  ; 
And  off  spede  he  is  mare  lycht 
Than  ony  foule  is  apon  flycht. 
He  oysys  mekyll  for  tyll  ete 
All  mannys  fleyhs  that  he  may  get. 

Thare  owsyn  ar  wytht  hornys  thre 
Wytht  fete  as  here  on  hors  yhe  se. 
Ane  othir  best  thare  is  wytht  all 
That  Monoceros  [forsuythe]  thai  call,  790 

He  is  in  fassown  of  hys  cors 
Lyk  in  all  thyng  till  ane  hors ; 
Bot  swylk  ane  hewyde  thai  say  has  he 
As  apon  ane  hert  yhe  se  ; 
As  elephawntys  bath  fete  and  tays, 
And  as  a  swyne  a  tayle  he  hawys ; 
Wytht  a  home,  and  that  is  set 
Ewyne  in  the  myddys  of  his  foret, 
Armyt  thare  wytht  [he  is]  als  wele 
As  men  are  in  to  yrne  or  stele ;  800 

Off  leynth  foure  fwte  hale  is  that  home, 
And  it  is  wondyr  scharpe  beforne  ; 


36  THE  CRONYKIL  [B.  I.- 

Thai bestys  wondyr  fellown  ar, 
And  oysis  wyth  gret  rerde  to  rare, 
And  wytht  that  home  he  wyrkys  payne 
Till  all  that  standys  hym  agayne. 
He  may  be  tane  and  slane  wyth  slycht, 
Bot  nevyr  dawntyde  be  at  rycht. 

In  to  the  wattyre  of  Gangys 

Thai  say  that  mony  elys  is  810 

That  ar  thretty  fwt  of  leynth  ; 
And  wormys  als  of  hwge  streynth, 
Lyk  to  partanys  her  ar  thai, 
And  on  thare  cors  has  armys  twai, 
And  sex  elne  are  hale  of  leynth. 
The  elephawntys  thai  tak  wytht  streynth, 
And  oft  gerrys  thame  drownyd  be 
In  wattyris  depe,  or  in  the  se. 

In  to  the  Yndys  Se,  thai  say, 

Snaylys  gret  ar  fundyn  ay,  820 

And  men  thare  makys  of  thare  schelle 
Lugyngys  gret  for  tyll  in  duelle. 
Thare  adamant,  thai  say,  is  gude 
That  nevyr  ma  brek  but  bukkys  blwde. 
In  Ynd  ar  othir  ferlyis  sere, 
That  I  lewe  for  to  rekyn  here, 
For  tha  ar,  tyll  yhowre  knawlage, 
Translatyde  welle  in  oure  langage. 


CH.  XL]  OF  SCOTLAND.  37 


CHAP.   XL 

In  this  €hapitm  on  qtohat  tog* 
Hh*  0al  &&  that  0m  |Cattiii0  Ui0. 

_L  EA  Ynd  to  Tygyre,  by  wattyrys  twa, 
Lyis  a  land  calde  Parthia :  830 

In  it  ar  cuntreis  thryis  tene 
And  tlire  attoure  stuffyt  wytht  men, 
Off  men  that  come  of  Sythya, 
F.  9.  b.         That  lande  was  callyt  Parthia. 
Nest  that  land  wes  calde  Parthy 
The  land  lyis  of  Aracusy. 
Off  Aracus,  ane  hyll  of  hycht, 
That  land  that  name  has  gottyn  rycht. 
Nest  it  lyis  halily 

The  lordschype  gret  off  Assyry  :  840 

Off  Semys  swn  that  Assur  was 
Callyde  that  land  that  name  now  has. 

Nest  lyis  the  landys  of  Medy, 
Off  Medus  kyng  cald  rychtwyslyt 
Syne  lyis  the  lordschype  hale  of  Pers  ; 
Quhare  Perseus  kyng,  I  herde  rehers, 
Gert  fyrst  a  cyte"  byggyde  be, 
And  syne  that  lordschype  Pers  calde  he. 
Off  wertu  thar  ar  stanys  twa, 
Pyr  and  Siles  calde  ar  tha :  850 

Pir  is  of  wertu  for  to  bryn 
The  hand  that  it  is  closyd  in  ; 
Syles  waxis  wytht  the  Mowne 
And  wanys  agayne  as  dois  the  Lune. 


38  THE  CRONYKIL  [B.  I. 

In  Pers  wes  fyrst  nygromancy, 

And  wyche -craft,  wytht  sorcery  ; 

Throuch  Cam  fwndyn  that  syn  was 

Be  name  callid  Zorastas, 

Kyng  off  Baktryanys,  that  Nynus  slwe, 

To  state  of  lordschype  quhen  he  drewe.  860 

Wytht  hyllys  hey  thir  landys  ar, 
And  craggy s  stray  t,  her  and  thare, 
Bot  profytabyll  to  man  and  best, 
Ewyn  as  a  lyne  fra  est  to  west, 
Betwene  the  gret  rywarys  twa, 
Ynd  and  Tygyr  calde  ar  tha. 
Fra  Tygyr  syne  till  Eufrates, 
Mesopotamya  fwndyt  wes, 
For  it  wes  set  betwene  tha  twa, 
It  hat  Mesopotamya :  870 

Thar  lyis  the  towne  of  Nynyve, 
That  Nynus  kyng  gert  bygyt  be, 
Quha  throwcht  it  passis  the  nerrast  ways 
Off  leyiith  he  fyndys  thre  jowrnays. 
Thar  nest  lyis  that  regyown 
The  kynrik  calde  off  Babylown, 
Quhar  that  a  Towre  of  huge  hycht 
Wes  bygyt  fyrst  throwcht  Nembrot  wycht ; 
That  towre  Babell  callyde  he. 
Thare  lyis  the  land  off  Calde,  880 

Quhar  fyrst  wes  fwndyn  astronomy. 
Nest  lyis  the  land  off  Araby, 
And  that,  that  we  Saba  call : 
In  it  the  cens  is  gottyn  all. 
Thar  is  the  mownt  of  Synay, 
The  hill  of  Oreb  ner  thar-by. 
Moyses  thare  the  Lawe  wrate, 


CH.  XL]  OF  SCOTLAND.  39 

Quhare  wytht  was  rewlyt  the  Jowys  state. 
Thare  lyis  the  towne  off  Madyane, 

F.  10.         Quhar  Getro,  prest,  wes  fyrst  owrman ;  890 

Thar  ar  als  thir  Moabytys, 
Idumeys,  and  Ammonytys, 
And  Saraceuys  of  natyowyns  sere, 
That  ma  noucht  all  be  rekynd  here. 

Fra  the  wattyr  off  Ewfrates 
The  land  off  Surry  lyis,  but  les, 
Furtht  strekand  to  the  Grekes  Se 
Thar  lyis  off  Damask  the  cyte". 
Thar  lyis  als  Antychia 

That  qwhylon  wes  calde  Eeblata,  900 

Commagene,  and  syne  Phenys, 
Thar  Tyre  and  Sydon  alsua  lyis ; 
Thar  is  that  hill  thai  call  Lybane, 
And  off  it  cummys  the  flwm  Jordane  ; 
Thare  is  the  town  callyd  Palestyn, 
That  Ascalon  wes  callyd  syne ; 
Thar  is  the  kynryk  of  Jude, 
And  all  the  land  off  Canane, 
Jherusalem  and  Samary ; 

All  thir  ar  lyand  in  Surry,  910 

And  all  the  land  of  Galyle, 
Wyth  Nazareth,  that  fayre  cyte; 
Quhar  Gabriell,  that  Angell  lycht, 
Sayd  to  [the]  madyn,  fayr  and  brycht, 
HAYLE,  FULL  OF  GKACE  !  AND  GOD  WYTH  THE  ! 
IN  ALL  WOMEN  THOWE  BLYSSYD  BE. 
By  standys  a  hill  is  calde  Tabor, 
Ner  that  wes  Sodom  and  Gomor, 
And  cyteis  ma  that  brynt  for  syn 
And  fylth  of  thaiin  that  duelt  thare  in :  920 


40  THE  CRONYKIL  [B.  I. 

Thare  now  is  hot  a  Dede  Se, 

Wytht-owt  ony  commodyte ; 

And  in  that  Se,  for-owtyn  dowt, 

The  watterys,  that  cummys  rynnand  owt 

Off  the  flwme  Jordane,  tays  entre 

Qwhat  wyis  sa  ever  thai  rynnand  be. 

Thar  ar  mony  Saracenys, 

Ysmalytys,  and  Agarenys, 

And  [thai]  that  ware  cald  Rabateys, 

And  dywers  othir  in  thare  greys,  930 

Off  Natyownys  and  off  ceteys  sere, 

That  I  leve  now  to  rekny  here. 

Thir  landys  that  thus  reknyd  ware 
Era  the  est  ewyn  lyand  are, 
All  strekyd  to  the  Grekys  Se, 
Land  be  land  in  to  thair  degre ; 
And  twelf  sere  Natyownys  on  thair  wys 
Oysand  thair  lawys,  and  thair  frawnchys. 


CHAP.   XII. 

0rhall  jjlu  to^t  on  qtohat  kjm  toii0 
attb  0m  |Danbt0  Ut0. 


.GAYNE  the  sowtht  to  thir  ar  knyt 
Fol.  10.  b.        All  Egyp  hale,  as  sayis  the  wryt.  940 

Be  est  it  lyis  the  Rede  Se. 
The  west  marche  sulde  in  Lyby  be, 
Be  north  the  hill  of  Cawcasus  : 
Egipt  lyis  all  marchyde  thus, 
Wytht  syndry  Natyownys  twenty  and  foure 
Quha  passys  Egipt  all  at-owre, 


CH.  XIL]  OF  SCOTLAND.  41 

And  mony  a  symly  cyt£  fayre, 

Wytht  towre,  and  stepe,  and  hewyn  stayre. 

Fyrst  it  callyd  was  Ewxya, 

Off  Latyne,  Bona  Copia,  950 

Gud  Plente,  that  is  to  say ; 

The  brodyre  syne  off  Schyr  Danay, 

Egystus  kyng,  off  ryell  fame, 

Gert  that  land  Egipt  have  till  name. 

In  it  is  all  kyn  habowndans 

That  gaynand  is  tyll  mannys  substans, 

Off  wyne,  off  wax,  off  oyle,  and  qwhete  ; 

Off  byrde,  and  best,  batht  small  and  gret,  . 

Off  fysch  in  flwde,  and  froyte  off  tre, 

Thare  is  habowndance  and  plente ;  960 

Sa  clere  and  lycht  thare  is  the  day 

That  na  kyn  clowde  puttys  lycht  a-waye ; 

Thare  ryvarys  ragys  noucht  for  rayne 

Na  mowys  noucht  wytht  mycht  na  mayne, 

Off  nakyn  stormys  at  may  fall ; 

The  wattyr  off  Nyle  owre-fletys  it  all 

Wytht  mowyr  spryng,  fore-owtyn  spate, 

Quhen  Egypte  nedys  to  be  wate. 

The  land  off  Tebys  in  it  lyis, 
And  off  it  lord  was  Saynt  Morys,  970 

Bot  Gadmws,  the  swne  off  Agenor, 
Made  a  cyt^  thare  beffor. 
Nest  Tebys  lyis  wyldyrnes 
Quhar  mony  mownkys  quhylwm  wes. 
Thar  Cambyses,  a  kyng  of  mycht, 
That  Egypt  wane  throucht  fors  off  fycht, 
Made  in  Egypt  a  cyte, 
And  Babylon  it  callyd  he. 
Syn  Alysawndyr  the  conqweroure 


42  THE  CRONYKIL  [B.  I. 

Made  Alysawndyr,  off  gret  honowre.  980 

Be  northt  thir  landys  reknyd  thus 

Standys  the  hill  off  Cawcasus, 

On  est  half  fra  the  Caspys  Se 

Swa  rysand  in  tyll  sunimyte 

Northt  on  tyll  Ewrope  merchande  nere, 

Quhare  Amazonys  duelland  were. 

Thai  war  wemen  wyld  and  wycht, 

And  oysyd  all  armyt  for  tyll  fycht, 

And  in  all  pres  war  sterne  and  stowt, 

To  fycht  wytht  men  thai  had  na  dowt.  990 

Wytht  thame  wes  Natyownys  duelland  sere 
F.  11.        That  spedys  noucht  to  be  reknyd  here 

Off  Kolcos,  and  off  Sarvya, 

Massagetys,  and  othir  ma. 

In  to  that  est  thar  is  ane  hyll 

Seres  that  name  [is]  gewyn  tyll, 

Syne  swa  wes  callyd  that  cuntre, 

Off  clathys  off  silk  thare  is  plente. 

The  land  off  Babeta  lyis  thare  by, 

And  till  it  marchys  Hyrkany ;  1000 

Thare  fowlys  ar  swa  fayre  and  brycht, 

Thare  feddrys  ar  schynand  all  the  nycht. 
Nest  marchand  lyis  Sythia, 

Till  it  a  land  cald  Hunya, 

Wytht  Natyownys  syndry  fourty  and  foure, 

Quha  sekys  all  thai  landys  oure. 

Thare  ar  alsua  hillys  hey 

That  cald  ar  Yperborey. 

Syne  is  a  land  cald  Albany, 

That  qwhyt  betakynnys  propirly  ;  1010 

For  the  folk  duelland  thare  in 

Ar  qwhyt  of  hare,  batht  cheke  and  chyn. 


CH.  XIL]  OY  SCOTLAND.  43 

< 

Nest  lyis  the  land  off  Armeny, 
Wytht  Ararat,  that  hill  sa  hey, 
Quhare  Noeys  schype  on  grownde  stwde, 
Quhen  all  swagyt  wes  the  flwde. 

Nest  lyis  a  land  cald  Ybery, 
Wytht  it  marchys  Capadocy  ; 
Wytht  out  stalowii  the  merys  thai1 
Off  the  wynde  consayvand  are.  1020 

Bot  thai  hors  or  yherys  thre 
Hapnys  noucht  to  ly vand  be ; 
For  this  is  ferly  for  to  here, 
A  clerk  that  tretys  off  this  inatere 
Sayis,  thare  is  in  to  that  land 
A  wattyre  gret,  on  hewyd  rynnand 
Depe  and  reche,  bot  noucht  full  wyde, 
Wytht  bankys  hey  on  evryilk  syd  ; 
On  the  ta  syde  off  that  flwde, 
The  stede  hors  gay  is  in  pastur  gude ;  1030 

On  the  tothir  half,  day  and  nycht, 
The  merys  ar  wyth  in  thare  sycht, 
Bot  it  ma  fall  be  na  kyn  way 
That  togyddyr  met  ma  thai ; 
Swa  waycht  and  wod  than  ar  thai  hors 
That  as  be-huwys  apon  fors, 
Era  tha  capylis  sudanly 
The  kynd  ethchapys  habowndanly 
That  swa  stark  is  off  flaweoure 
That  [it]  raykys  the  revar  our;  1040 

And  in  thai  merys  entre  tais, 
That  baggyd  gret  wytht  foyle  thaim  mais, 
And  castyn  syne  ar  qwyk  gangand 
Bot  thai  fayhle  to  be  lang  lestand. 
F.  11.  b.         Syii  Lytyll  Asy  lyis,  but  dowt, 


44  THE  CRONYKIL  [B.  I. 

Nere  beltyde  wytht  the  Se  abowt. 

Thare  Epheson  the  fayre  cyte" 

Amazonys  gert  byggyt  be. 

Now  men  oysis  it  to  calle 

Hawtelog  in  landys  all.  1050 

Saynt  Jhon  the  ewangelyst  thare  lyis, 

That  plesyd  tyll  God  in  hys  serwys. 

The  fyrst  land  of  Les  Asia 

Is  calde  the  Mare  Frygya. 

Fyrst  Beryke  and  syne  Mygdony, 

Bytynya,  and  syne  the  Mar  Frygy. 

Thare  is  a  cyte  off'  gret  fame 
That  Nycea  has  to  name, 
In  it  a  Seyhne  solempne  wes  sene, 
Thre  hundyre  byschapys  and  awchtene ;  1060 

Before  Sylvestere  the  haly  Pape, 
Revestyde  weylle  in  albe  and  cape, 
Thai  exponyt  [than]  clerly 
The  trewtht  that  Crystynmen  lywys  by. 

There  is  a  cyt£  calde  Smyrna, 
And  nest  it  lyis  Galachia. 
Syne  lyis  the  landys  off  Turky, 
That  fyrst  wes  callyd  the  Les  Frygy ; 
Schyr  Dardanus  gert  eftyr  call 
Dardanya  that  lordschype  all ;  1070 

Syne  Troyws  kyng,  off  gret  powste, 
Gert  reale  Troye  byggyt  be, 
Abowt  ane  hyll  wytht  in  the  town 
Ylyon  calde,  off  gret  renown. 
Nest  tha  landys  lyis  by 
Lykaon  and  Hykary : 
Thare  rynnys  a  ryvare  calde  Hermes, 
That  famows  is  off  gret  ryches. 


CH.  xii.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  45 

For  in  the  sande  besyd  that  flwde 
Off  fyne  golde  thare  is  plente  gude.  1080 

Nest  lyis  the  landys  off  Lydys  hale, 
Tyatyra,  be  down  and  dale, 
That  is  off  Lydys  a  cyte, 
And  chymys  off  that  lande  sulde  be. 
Nest  it  lyis  Ysawrya, 
Off  wynde  or  ayre  it  cald  is  swa, 
For  hale  and  pwre  thare  is  the  ayre, 
It  hat  Ysawrya  sa  fayre. 
Nest  it  lyis  Sylycya, 

Thare  is  ane  hill  calde  Amana,  1090 

That  sum  oysis  to  call  Tawrus. 
Nest  lyis  a  cyte  calde  Tarsus ; 
Thare  Paule  the  Apostyle  prechyde 
Tyll  Crystyne  trewth,  quhen  he  men  techyd. 
Nest  lyis  a  land  cald  Lycya, 
Syne  Sydy,  and  Pamphylia ; 
Syne  Polys,  that  large  regyown, 
Wytht  mony  a  syndry  Natyowue 
Lywand  wpone  syndry  wyis, 

F.  12.          Wytht  thaire  lawys,  and  thaire  frawnchys.        1100 
Thare  Ovyde,  and  Saynt  Clement  syne, 
Ware  exylyde  to  be  dede  in  pyne. 

Now  hawe  yhe  herde  me  lychtly 
Ourehale  the  landys  off  Asy, 
C-       That  tylle  Sem  and  hys  lynage 
Grewe,  and  fell  in  herytage, 
And  it  the  half  is  off  the  thre 
That  party s  off  the  Erde  sulde  be. 
Fra  the  sowth  it  bakwarde  strekys 
In  tyll  the  northt  qwhill  that  it  rekys  1110 

The  northt  art,  as  I  fynde  in  wryte 


46  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  I. 

On  [the]  rycht  half  is  the  west  off  it, 

The  left  halff  levys  at  Affrica, 

And  the  west  at  Ewropa, 

And  is  beltyde  nere  abowt 

Off  thre  sydys  wyth  the  Se  wytht-owt. 


CHAP.   XIII. 

3Ett  tht0  next  Chapitere  ftflottaribe 
10  tattlb  hcrto  Jlfrik*  i0  l^anbe. 


"FF  Abrahammys  posteryte 
Affer,  thai  say,  sulde  cummyn  be. 
He  wes  a  man  off  reale  fame, 
Off  hym  all  Affryk  has  the  name,  1120 

That  thryde  part  off  the  Erde  sulde  be 
Quhen  all  the  lawe  is  delt  in  thre, 
And  as  the  land  off  Affryk  lyis, 
The  sowth  art  hale  it  occupyis. 
The  wattyre  [of]  Ynde,  as  say  is  the  wryt, 
On  est  half  is  the  marche  off  it. 
And  at  the  west  off  it  sulde  be 
The  strayt  off  Marrok  in  the  Se, 
And  the  cyte"  off  Gades, 

The  pyllarys  off  Ercules,  1130 

Wytht-in  ane  yle,  in  to  the  Se, 
Wes  set,  and  may  wel  knawin  be. 
Gades  nowe,  that  cyte"  fyne, 
Is  calde  the  Sept  in  Balmaryne. 
A  gret  land  is  cald  Lyby 
Lyis  in  tyll  Affryk  halyly. 
Pentapolys  nest  is  syne, 


CH.  XIIL]  OF  SCOTLAND.  47 

For  fywe  cyteis  thar  are  fyne. 
Trypyll  syne  off  cyteis  thre 

Nest  hande  that  sulde  lyand  be  ;  1 140 

And  syne  the  kynryke  off  Cartage 
That  Dydo  awcht  off  herytage : 
The  wallys  of  it  in  brede  abowt 
Off  awchtene  cubytys  ware  bwt  dowt. 
Syne  the  land  off  Getwly, 
Nest  it  is  lyand  Nwmydy, 
Wytht  Yppon  that  cyte  fyne, 
Off  it  wes  byschape  Saynt  Awstyne. 
Nest  lyis  a  land  calde  Mawrytane, 

F.  12.  b.          Nest  Cesare,  and  syne  Syngytane  :  1150 

Towart  the  sowth  is  lyand  syne 
Ethyope ;  in  it  a  cyt^  fyne 
Off  Saba,  and  off  that  cyte" 
Wes  that  Qweyne  that  come  to  se 
Salamon  in  to  hys  dayis, 
As  the  Buk  off  Kyngys  sayis. 

Ethiope  lyis  in  to  the  est. 
The  tothir  Ethyope  in  to  the  west ; 
Thar  is  a  welle  off  wattyre  clere, 
Bot  thare  is  nane  dar  necht  it  nere,  1160 

All  the  nycht  it  is  sa  hat, 
Syne  turnys  it  in  ane  othire  state, 
And  sa  cawlde  is  on  the  day 
^      That  man  na  best  it  drynk  na  may 
Off  Ethyope ;  and  by  it  nere, 
Throwcht  sped  off  fwte,  men  tayis  the  dere. 
Trogedytys  thai  oys  to  call 
That  folk  in  thare  langage  all. 
By-yhonde  all  Ethiope,  but  les, 
Lyis  mekyll  land  in  wyldernes,  1170 


48  THE  CBONYKIL  [B.  I. 

Quhar  na  man  dare  repayre  na  duelle 
For  het  off  swn,  and  eddrys  felle ; 
As  [in]  a  caldrown  thar,  thai  say, 
For  het  of  sown  the  Se  wyll  play. 

Now  hawe  I  tawlde  yhowe  schortly 
The  landys  off  Affryk  as  thai  lay, 
That  tyll  Cam  and  his  lynage 
Grewe  and  fell  in  herytage. 
Tyll  Ewrope  now  I  turne  my  stylle, 
And  thare  off  wyll  I  spek  a  qwhille.  1 1 80 


CHAP.   XIV. 


next  Chapiter* 

tell  ghxrto  hot)  dtorape  t0  Ipzmbe. 


T 


HE  landys  that  in  Ewrope  lyis 
The  northt  art  all  occupyis. 
In  to  the  north  off  Ewrope  is 
A  ryver  that  hat  Tanays, 
Quhare  that  thar  standys  hillys  he 
That  hat  the  mowyntys  [of]  Eyphey, 
Fra  the  wattyre  off  Tanayis 
Sowth  on  to  Danoy  strekyd  is 
A  land  cald  Nedyre  Sythya, 

Ovyr  Sythy  lyis  in  Asya,  1 1 90 

And  tyll  it  [is]  marchand  nere 
Set  thai  ly  in  partys  sere, 
For-thi  sum  haldys  that  bath  tha 
Sulde  be  bot  a  Sythya. 
In  it  is  lyand  halyly 
Lectow  land  and  Albany, 


CH.  xiv.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  49 

Get-land  and  Dacya, 
Thir  lyis  in  the  Nedyre  Sythia. 
Fra  [the]  wa.ttyre  off  Danoy 

Tyll  Alpes,  that  ar  hyllys  hey  1200 

Departand  Ytaly  fra  Frawns, 
Be  marchis,  merys,  and  distawns, 
Lyis  Duche-land  all  halyly, 
F- 13-        That  cald  wes  Owyr  Germany. 
Germany  in  propyrte 
Burjownyng  may  callyde  be ; 
For  thare  men  in  gret  multitude 
Sa  growys  off  fowrme  and  fasown  gud ; 
Quhare-for  men  oyside  propyrly 
That  land  to  call  all  Germany.  1210 

Almayne  men  oysyd  it  to  calle, 
Swawyne  in  it  is  lyand  alle, 
West  on  wytht  the  wattyr  off  Ryne  ; 
On  north  half  it  is  rynnaud  syne 
A  wattyr  that  is  callyd  Alvews. 
In  Almane  spryngys  Danwbyus, 
That  we  oys  to  call  Danoy, 
Wytht  wattrys  ekyd  hale  sexty ; 
Bot  it  is  rynnand  to  and  fra 

Deviddit  in  party s  fyff  and  twa ;  ]  220 

At  Powns  it  entrys  in  the  se 
Off  Asy ;  that  is  ane  cowntre. 
In  Almayne  is  Bawayr  and  Eespoyne, 
Est-Frank,  Twryng,  and  Saxoyne  : 
Syne  Nedyre  Germany  on-ane 
Strekys  north  in  the  occeane  : 

In  that  Nethir  Germany. 
All  Northway  lyis  halily, 
And  sum  men  sayis  Denmark  alsua, 

VOL.  I.  n 


50  THE  CKONYKIL  [B.  I. 

And  sum  men  sayis  in  Sythia.  1230 

Fra  Danoy  that  gret  ryvere 

And  all  abowt  it  lyis  nere 

A  land  that  calde  is  Messya ; 

For  plent^  gret,  men  callis  it  swa, 

Off  corne  that  thare  is  habowndand  ; 

It  lyis  est  on  ay  strekand, 

Marchyd  wyth  the  Mekyll  Se. 

Off  Boemy,  the  gret  cuntre, 

It  marchys  nere  wyth  Pannony, 

That  lyis  nere  wpon  Wngary.  1240 

Syne  lyis  a  land  callyd  Tracya, 

Tyras  it  awcht,  and  cald  it  swa ; 

In  it  rynnys  that  ry ver 

That  calde  in  awlde  tyme  wes  Hy vere ; 

In  it  alsua  is  that  cyte* 

That  Constantynopylle  now  calle  we. 

The  lande  off  Setym  halyly, 

That  Grece  is  cald  now  comownly, 

Fra  the  Mere  Medyterrane 

Lyis  sowth  on  to  the  occeane  1250 

That  is  in  the  Mekyll  Se  wyth-out, 

Beltand  all  the  erde  abowt ; 

Swa  all  the  Erde  may  wele  be 

Calde  ane  He  wytht-in  the  Se. 

In  Grece  lyis  Dalmatia, 
Epyr,  and  Kapuya, 
Melos  land,  and  Ellady, 
Attyke,  Athenys,  and  Boecy. 
Cadmus  the  swn  off  Ageiior, 

That  Tebyk  in  Asy  made  before,  1260 

That  Boecy  gert  byggyt  be, 
And  Tebys  in  Grece  it  callyd  he. 


CH.  xiv.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  51 

The  men  off  Tebys  in  Asy 
Ar  calde  in  Latyne  Tebey. 
Tebany  thai  oys  to  call 
F.  is  b.          In  to  Grece  the  Tebys  all. 

In  Grece  is  Pelops  and  Tessaly, 

And  the  land  off  Macedony, 

Olympws  als,  the  hill  off  hycht 

That  passys  the  clowdys  ewyn  wp  rycht  1270 

Tessalonyke,  and  Akay, 

Coryntws  syne,  and  Arkady 

That  calde  beforne  wes  Sycyon, 

A  stane  is  thare  calde  Albeston 

That  may  off  na  wys  slokyd  be 

Fra  anys  in  fyre  men  may  it  se. 

Syne  lyis  Ovyr  Pannony, 

Tyll  Appennyue  the  hillis  hey, 

On  north  half  rynnys  that  ryvere 

That  cald  quhylum  wes  Hystere,  1280 

Now  men  oysis  for  to  call, 

Danoy  that  ryver  all. 

Men  oysyt  to  call  Ytaly. 
Mekyll  Grece  all  halyly ; 
It  rysis  at  the  Alpis  he 
And  haldys  on  to  the  Mekyll  Se ; 
It  namys  chawngyd  has  syndry 
Bot  yhit  it  cald  is  Ytaly. 
Thare  Eomwlus  gert  Eome  be  made, 
That  fassown  of  a  lyown  hade ;  1 290 

In  takyn  at  it  sulde  soverane  be 
Off  all  landys ;  as  yhe  se 
The  lyown  havand  seyhnowry 
Off  all  bestys  hym  ly vand  by ; 
For  in  tyll  awlde  tyme  men  that  made 


52  THE  CRONYKIL  [B.  I. 

Cyteis  ay  in  custwme  hade 

All  lyk  to  bestys  thaim  to  ma ; 

And  this  Rome  wes  ane  off  tha 

That  wes  made  in  tyll  fassown, 

As  I  sayd,  lyk  tyll  a  lyown.  1 300 

Brwndys  lyk  ane  hart  wes  made, 

And  Cartage  als  the  fassown  hade 

Off  ane  ox,  and  Troy  wes 

Made  as  ane  hors  in  lyklynes. 

Thir  townys  all  the  fassown  had 

Off  thir  bestys,  and  wes  made 

Lyk  tyll  thame  in  all  kyn  gre, 

As  the  makarys  had  daynte 

Off  thai  bestys  and  delyt 

Be  fret,  or  oys,  or  be  profyt.  1310 

Nere  Ytaly  lyis  Tuskayne ; 
Syne  lyis  a  land  is  calde  Chawmpayne, 
And  the  lande  off  Poyhle  thare  by, 
Syne  all  the  landys  off  Lumbardy, 
Wytht  mony  fayre  and  gret  cyteis 
Abowndand  all  in  tyll  rycheys. 
At  tha  Alpys  thai  say  syne 
The  hevyde  is  off  the  wattyr  off  Eyne. 
Fra  thine  thai  [say]  swlde  lyand  be 
Sowth  on  strekand  to  the  Se  1320 

The  kynryk  off  Frawns  tyll  Occeane, 
A  se  betwene  it  and  Bretane, 
Be  west  it  Lyowns  apon  Rone, 
Be  sowth  it  lyand  is  Narbone, 
F.  14.        Wytht  Arle  thare-in,  a  fayre  cyte", 
And  nere  that  thai  [say]  sulde  be, 
In  to  the  west  all  Eqwytane, 
That  we  oys  nowe  to  call  Gyan  : 


CH.  xv.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  53 

That  land  thai  say  is  lyande  fayre 

Ner  strekand  by  the  wattyr  off  Layre.  1330 

Syne  lyand  is  the  land  off  Spayne ; 

A  se  bet  wen  e  it  and  Bretayne 

Departys  bathe  thai  landys  thare, 

As  severaly  thai  lyand  are. 


CHAP.   XV. 

bathe  Itaettane  attb  Irlattbe 
©torrrpe  t0 


JJLESSYDE  Bretayne  beelde  sulde  be 

Off  all  the  Ilys  in  the  Se, 

Quhare  flowrys  are  fele  on  feldys  fayre, 

Hale  off  hewe,  haylsum  off  ay-re. 

Off  all  corne  thare  is  copy  gret, 

Pese,  and  atys,  bere,  and  qwhet  : 

Bath  froyt  .on  ire,  and  fysche  in  flwde  ; 

And  tyll  all  catale  pasture  gwde. 

Solynus  [sayis],  in  Bretanny 

Sum  steddys  growys  sa  habowndanly 

Off  gyrs,  that  sum  tym,  bot  thair  fe 

Fra  fwlth  .off  mete  refrenyht  be, 

Thair  fwde  sail  turne  thame  to  peryle, 

To  rot,  or  bryst,  or  dey  sum  quhyle. 

Thare  wylde  in  w.ode  has  welth  at  wylle  ; 

Thare  hyrdys  hydys  holme  and  hille  ;  1350 

Thare  bewys  bowys  all  for  byrtht, 

Bathe  merle  and  maweys  mellys  off  myrtht  ; 

Thare  huntyng  is  at  allkyne  dere, 

And  richt  gud  hawlkyn  on  rywere  ; 


54  THE  CKONYKIL  [B.  I. 

Off  fysche  thaire  is  habowndance 

And  nedfulle  thyng  to  mannys  substance. 

On  Est  half  it  lyis  Germany, 
And  all  Denmark  halyly ; 
And  West  half  Bretane  is  lyand 
All  hale  the  landys  off  Irland.  1360 

Fyffe  wrakys  syndry  has  oure-tayne 
Off  [Goddis]  lykyng  this  Bretayne  ; 
Quhen  Peychtys  warrayd  it  stoutly, 
And  wan  off  it  a  gret  party ; 
Syne  the  Romanys  trybute  gate 
Off  Bretayne  ;  and  syne  eftyr  that 
The  Saxonys  off  Ingland  hale 
Wan  it,  and  hade  the  governale ; 
Syne  thai  off  Denmark  warrayd  fast, 
Bot  yhit  thai  tynt  it  at  the  last ;  1370 

The  Normawudys  eftyr  wan  Ingland, 
And  thare  ar  lordys  yhit  ryngnand. 

Off  Langagis  in  Bretayne  sere 
I  fynd  that  sum  tym  fyff  thare  were  : 
Off  Brettys  fyrst,  and  Inglis  syne, 
Peycht,  and  Scot,  and  syne  Latyne. 
Bot,  off  [the]  Peychtys,  is  ferly, 
That  ar  wndone  sa  halyly, 
That  nowthir  remauande  ar  langage, 

F.  14.  b.         Na  [yit]  successyown  off  lynage ;  1380 

Swa  off  thare  antyqwyte 
Is  lyk  bot  fabyll  for  to  be. 

Be  west  Bretane  is  lyand 
All  the  landys  off  Irlande  : 
That  is  ane  land  off  nobyl  ayre, 
Off  fyrth,  and  felde,  and  Howrys  fayre  : 
Thare  nakyn  best  off  wenym  may 


CH.  xv.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  55 

Lywe  or  lest  atoure  a  day  ; 

As  ask,  or  eddyre,  tade,  or  pade, 

Suppos  that  thai  be  thiddyr  hade.  1390 

Be  northt  Brettane  sulde  lyand  be 
The  Owt  Ylys  in  the  Se. 
Off  thame  ar  thre  pryncipale, 
Suppos  thare  be  ma  in  the  hale  : 
Orknay  certis  ane  sulde  be ; 
The  Isle  off  Man  syne  in  the  Se, 
Betwene  Irland  and  Bretany ; 
Is  Wycht  anens  Normawndy. 
Yhit  thretty  ylys  in  that  Se, 

Wytht-owt  thir,  ma  welle  reknyde  be.  1400 

And  in  that  Se  thare  is  an  He, 
That  in  tyll  awlde  tyme  cald  wes  Tyle 
Thare  sex  moneth  off  the  yhere, 
That  we  halde  for  summyre  here, 
Thare  for-owtyn  nycht  is  day ; 
The  sex  moneth  off  wyntyre  ay 
Wytht-in  that  yle  is  ythand  nycht, 
Wytht-owtyn  ony  dayis  lycht. 
Be  north  tha  may  nane  erde  be 
Fwndyn,  bot  a  mekyll  Se.  1410 

All  thir  landys,  as  thai  ly 
I  have  ourhalyd  lychtly. 
Quhat  I  have  mysdone  in  my  spelle 
Ymago  Mundi  kane  wele  telle. 

Bot  all  Ewrope  in  herytage 
Tyll  Japhet  fell,  and  hys  lynage  : 
He  wes  the  yhoungast  off  the  thre 
Swnnys  gottyn  throwch  Nbe ; 
The  eldest  swnne  off  this  Japhet 
Wes  Gomere,  that  gat  Bygaet :  1420 


56  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  I. 

This  Rygaet  eftyre  that 
Gat  Ysrawe,  that  Ysrawe  gat : 
Syne  this  Ysrawe  gat  Jara, 
That  fadyre  wes  syne  off  Ara : 
Off  this  Ara  come  Doyt : 
And  his  swne  calde  wes  Artoyt : 
Off  Abywr  syne  eftyr  that 
Come  Otoyr,  that  Mayr  gat : 
Off  hym  come  Eeyne,  that  gat  Boe, 
The  quhilk  wes  fadyr  tyll  Toe  :  1 430 

Agnoym  wes  syne  fadyr 
Tyll  ane  [swn]  wes  calde  Etoyr : 
Off  Etoyr  come  eftyre  that 
Lamyne,  that  Cogyne-Glymyne  gat : 
Syne  Fynyas-Farset  in  that  qwylle 
Gat  a  swn,  wes  calde  Nevyle : 
This  ilke  Nevylle  eftyre  that 
F.  15.         To  swn  Gedyll-Glays  gat, 

That  hade  weddyt  Scota  yhyng, 

Pharaoys  dowchtyr  of  Egypt  kyng.  1440 


CHAP.   XVI. 


3£tt  tht0  next  Chapiters  ghe  0all  here 
^0to  fgr0t  the  ^ongjiff  rhanjjtbe  toere. 


0 


AM,  the  myddyl  off  the  thre 
Swnnys  gottyne  off  Noe, 
Had  a  swn  callyde  Cws, 
That  gat  Nembrot,  and  he  Belus. 
This  Nembrot  stalwart  wes  of  pytht 
And  wayth  man  he  wes  thare  wyth ; 


CH.  XVL]  OF  SCOTLAND.  57 

He  wes  the  fyrst  that  yharnyde  tyll  have 
Seyhnowry  oure  ajl  the  lawe 
That  lywand  wes  in  lande  hym  by. 
Off  hys  cownsale  halyly  1450 

Babelle,  that  towre,  biggyd  was, 
That  off  hycht  hade  foure  thowsand  pas, 
In  to  the  felde  off  Sennaare, 
Quhare  that  mony  gadryde  ware 
On  set  purpos  to  wyn  thaim  name 
And  hey  thaire  prys,  thaire  state,  thaire  fame, 
Thai  thoucht  a  cyt£  for  to  ma, 
A  Toure  wythin  off  hycht  alsua, 
To  clym  wpe  to  the  ayre  quhen  thai 
Swylk  maysterys  lykyd  till  assay.  1460 

This  purpos  thai  put  in  tyll  deyde, 
And  wes  wyrkand  wytht  gud  speyd  ; 
Swa  it  happnyd,  at  the  last, 
As  thai  wroucht  and  travelyde  fast, 
Thare  speke  chawngyd  sudanly, 
And  ilkane  spak  swa  syndyrly 
That  nane  cowth  othyr  wndyrstande, 
As  he  wes  on  hym  than  blabrande. 
Comestor  sayis  in  this  chawngyng 
God  made  na  wrocht,  na  wnkouth  thyng,          1470 
Tha  ilke  woycys  sykyrly. 
Thai  had  before  all  generaly 
,        Remaynyde  styll  wytht-owtyn  lesyng, 
Suppos  thai  woycis  [made]  chawngyng 
A  worde  is  newe  in  fourmys  sere 
Ma  than  I  kan  reknyn  here ; 
Qwhare  before  wes  oysid  nane 
Bot  Hebrew  langage,  it  allane. 
Thai  cessyde  than  off  thare  byggyng, 


58  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  I 

For  thai  mycht  bryng  tyll  nane  endyng  1480 

Thare  purpos,  na  thare  fyrst  intent, 

Thai  had  sa  fers  impedyment, 

Qwhare-oif  ilkane  hade  ferly 

Thai  spak  to-gyddyre  sa  wnkowthly, 

That  nane  ane  othir  wndyrstude, 

All  wyll  off  wane  fra  thine  thai  yhwde, 

Dy vysyde  in  to  landys  sere ; 

All  thus  the  langagys  chawngyt  were. 


CHAP.   XVII. 

<<2Eltt  fgr0t  mature  xrff 
i0  boi  ieghime 


F.  15.  b.        A.WTOKYS  sere,  in  thare  storys, 

Oppynnyownys  haldys  on  syndry  wys  1490 

Off  this  Nembrot,  the  swn  off  Cus  ; 

Frere  Martyne  cald  hym  Saturnus, 

Pullux  swn,  sum  sayd,  he  wes, 

Sum  feyhneyd  he  wes  fadyrles, 

And  nane  sowerane  our  hym  hade, 

And  all  the  warlde  off  golde  he  made. 

The  poetys  calde  hym  Creatowre 

Off  all  that  thai  dyde  tyll  honowre, 

As  Pluto,  Jupyter,  and  Bachus, 

Neptwne,  Mars,  and  Eolus,  1500 

Off  batylle,  wyne,  wynd,  and  se, 

Thai  feyhne  that  thir  sulde  goddys  be  ; 

Yhit  thir  poetys  feyhnys  mare 

Off  this  Saturne  we  spake  off  are 

That  fra  he  wyst  be  werde  that  he 


CH.  XVIL]  OF  SCOTLAND.  59  - 

Throwcht  hys  swn  sulde  geldyt  be 
He  bad  hys  wyffe  rycht  straytly 
Quhat  byrth  scho  bare  off  hyr  body 
Befor  hym  scho  sulde  it  set, 

For  that,  he  sayde,  sulde  be  hys  met,  1510 

Swa  on  hys  barnys  he  sulde  be  wrokyii, 
That  that  werde  sulde  all  be  brokyn. 
Than  Pluto  fyrst  hyr  happnyt  to  bere, 
And  off  hym,  quhen  scho  wes  lychtere, 
Scho  gert  send  hym  hys  fadyr  to, 
To  se  off  hym  quhat  he  walde  do. 
Than  Satwrne  dawe  hym  in  yerde, 
Swa  fayhlyd  in  tyll  hym  the  werde ; 
Thar-for  hym  god  off  erde  or  helle 
Poetys  callys  in  thare  spelle.  1520 

Off  Neptwne  nest  scho  wes  lychtare 
And  scho  hym  tyll  hys  fadyre  bare, 
And  he  hym  swaykyde  in  the  se, 
Thar-off  thai  feyhne  that  god  is  he. 
Fra  scho  herde  this  felny  dwne. 
Tyll  Pluto  fyrst,  and  syne  Neptwue, 
Scho  let  tyll  hym  be  browcht  no  mare 
The  barnys  that  scho  eftyre  bare. 
Syne  to  swn  he  gat  Pycus, 

That  fadyr  wes  to  Fernyus,  1530 

And  hys  swne  wes  calde  Latyne. 
6      Off  Ytaly  he  lord  wes  syne, 
And  this  Latyne  langage  he 
In  tyll  fowrme  gert  spokyn  be. 
The  ferde  swn  scho  happynde  to  bere 
Wes  calde  be  name  Jupytere ; 
This  Jupyter  all  prevaly 
Scho  gert  be  fostryde  tendirly, 


60  THE  CKONYKIL  [B.  I. 

Quhill  he  passid  all  yhowthade, 
And  storknyde  in  tyll  stowt  manhade.  1540 

Agayne  hys  fadyre  irowsly 
F.  16.         Than  he  ras  in  swylk  felny, 

And  made  on  hym  swa  fellown  chas, 

Folowand  hym  fra  place  to  place, 

Quhill  Satwrne,  for  sawffte, 

Flede  in  that  ile  was  callyde  Crete ; 

Thiddyr  hys  swn  folowyde  fast, 

And  tuk  hym  thare  in  at  the  last, 

And  presonyde  hym  lang  tyme  in  pyne, 

And  tyte  fra  hym  hys  lumys  syne.  1550 

Thare  thai  kest  thame  in  the  se, 

Wenus  thare  off  sulde  cummyn  be. 

Thir  poetys  sayis  in  thare  fenyhyng 

(Bot  it  is  noucht  all  suthfast  thyng) 

Men  may  trowe  full  werraly, 

And  mystrow  this  all  wtraly, 

For  in  the  articlys  off  the  Cxede 

Is  noucht  off  this  for-owtyn  dred. 

Thai  halde  alsua  this  Venus  wes 

Off  luve  lady  and  goddes,  1560 

Off  all  fayrhede ;  and  for-thi 

All  thai  that  luwyd  perdrwry 

Made  tyll  hyr  thare  sacrifyis, 

And  honowryd  hyr  in  thare  serwys. 

Propyrly,  as  scho  sulde  be 

Thare  hope,  thare  hape,  and  thare  awowe. 

Thare-eftyre  fra  that  Saturnus, 
As  yhe  hawe  herde  was  geldyt  thus, 
He  buskyd  off  that  land  to  ga, 
That  Jupyter  suld  noucht  hym  sla,  1570 

Na  wyrk  hym  mare  wa  na  dispyte, 


CH.  XVIL]  OF  SCOTLAND.  61 

( 

He  gat  in  tyll  a  gala  tyte, 

AncL  passyd  the  se  sa  happely 

That  he  gat  in  tyU  Ytaly. 

Thare,  as  he  closyd  hys  latyrday, 

Poetys  off  hym  noucht  mare  walde  say, 

Bot  that  he  wes  howth  vs  sete 

To  be  rygnand  a  planete, 

Hys  cours  haldande  be  hym-selwe. 

In  ilkane  off  the  taknys  twelve,  1580 

Sex  moneth  and  twa  yhere. 

Era  he  entyre  in  the  syngnyfere, 

Quhill  thretty  wyntyr  be  oure-tane 

Or  he  be  qwytly  all  throwch  gane. 

The  Zodiake  that  we  call ; 

For  that  he  berys  the  taknys  all, 

In  hys  cours  wytht  wyolence 

Offt  hapnys  were  or  pestilence ; 

Swa  is  mankynde  in  gret  dowte 

Quhyll  he  hys  cours  hawe  all  made  owte,         1590 

Wndir  this  Saturne,  as  Ovyde  say  is, 
That  made  the  warld  in  tyll  his  dayis. 
Off  Gold,  all  state  was  innocent, 
But  plede,  or  ony  jugement. 
He  gert  nothyr  erde  na  tre, 
In  hys  tyme  dolwyn  na  hewyn  be, 
F.  16.  b.         Thair  byrth,  but  thret,  thai  oysid  bere, 
Thaire  wes  na  wylde  that  wyst  off  were, 
Then  wes  na  schype  to  sayle  the  Se, 
Nowthir  craere,  farkost,  na  gale ;  1 600 

Thare  wes  na  cuntre  mare  plesande 
Tyll  man,  that  tyme,  than  hys  awne  lande ; 
Best  and  byrd,  and  fysch  in  flwde, 
Had  at  thaire  chos  all  lykand  fwde, 


THE  CKONYKIL  [B.  I. 

The  lady  that  tyme,  Dame  Nature, 
Wytht  hyr  rewle  lede  all  creature. 

Quhen  this  Saturne  away  wes  dede, 
Hys  swn  that  ras  in  tyll  hys  stede, 
Saw  this  golde  off  kynd  sa  brycht 
All  dysessfull  tyll  hys  sycht ;  1610 

Wp  that  gold  he  tuke  away ; 
And  he  the  warlde  made,  in  hys  day, 
Off  qwhyte  Sylwyre,  that  wes  were 
Metalle  than  the  golde  beffere. 
He  gert  bestys  wndir  yhoke 
Thole  brodys  sare,  and  mony  a  knoke ; 
He  gert  fyrst  men  mak  byggyng 
And  oys  in  hows  thare  dwellyng ; 
Hors  he  gert  bath  drwg  and  drawe, 
And  men  he  kend  tyll  ere  and  sawe ;  1620 

Goshawke  he  dawntyde  and  fawcownys 
To  tak  bathe  boytoure  and  herrownys. 

Quhen  Jupyter  syne  wes  dede, 
He  that  succedyt  in  hys  stede, 
The  golde  and  sylvyr  he  gert  be  hyde, 
As  yhit  is  wndyr  the  kyst  lyd, 
And  all  the  warlde  he  made  off  Bras, 
That  were  than  gold  or  sylver  was, 
That  wes  all  state  of  mare  dowrnes, 
Than  ony  tyme  before  it  wes.  1630 

The  werst  generatyowne 
The  ferde  was  in  successyoune, 
Quhen  that  prynce  hys  powere  hade, 
Off  Yrne  all  the  warlde  he  made. 
Owyde  sayis  in  to  that  quhyle 
Wpe  ras  falshede,  swyk  and  gyle, 
Slycht,  mycht,  and  ill  qweyntys, 


CH.  xvm.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  63 

And  brynnand  lust  off  cowatyis. 

The  gest  yharnyed  wele  to  fare, 

Mycht  nowcht  be  sykkyre  off  his  hoslare  ;        1640 

Na  the  mawich  couth  noucht  be 

In  pes  wytht  hys  alye* ; 

And  oftsys  the  ta  brodyre 

Walde  off  were  be  wytht  the  tothire ; 

The  fadyre  trowyt  that  the  swn 

Walde,  for  hys  land,  hys  dayis  war  dwne. 


CHAP.  XVIII. 

fgr0t  mater*  xrf  Jftatontentrg 
CUrki0  cnilis 


MAN"  in  awlde  tyme  wes  calde  Belus, 
F.  17.         Fadyr  he  wes  to  Schyr  Nynus, 
That  wes  kyng  off  Assyry. 

Hys  fadyr  he  luwyde  sa  tendirly,  1650 

That  quhen  he  wes  dede  before, 
For  tyll  have  off  hym  gud  memore, 
All  lyk  hys  fadyr  in  fygoure 
Ane  ymage  he  mayd  in  fayr  payntoure, 
That  payntyd  ymage  wytht  colowrys  fyne 
In  publyk  place  he  set  wp  syne, 
'      Quhare  comowne  acces  and  repayre 
Men  mycht  have  tyll  that  figoure  fayre, 
And  gert  oure  all  [his]  lordschype  cry, 
Quha  to  that  ymage  devotly  1660 

Walde  cum,  for  gyrth  or  sawffte, 
Na  man  suld  swa  hardy  be 
Hym  to  pres  to  tak  or  slay, 


64  THE  CRONYKIL 

Or  ony  mannans  tyll  hym  may, 

For  ony  mys  that  he  had  dwne, 

Bot  thare  thai  sulde  have  succoure  swne, 

Qwhyll  thai  wytht-in  the  presence  ware 

Byddande  off  that  fygowre  thare. 

Than,  for  cans  off  swylk  succoure, 

The  men  off  that  land  dyd  honoure 

To  that  fygoure,  as  that  it  ware 

A  god  off  mycht  and  off  poware, 

Othire  be  that  ensawmpylle  syne 

Off  novyll  matere  or  off  fyne, 

Off  thare  frendys  that  ware  dede. 

Set  wp  syk  fygure  in  thaire  stede, 

And  gert  do  thame  sik  honowre, 

As  thai  had  bene  thaire  creatoure  : 

Sum  Bell  thai  callyd,  and  sum  Baall, 

Sum  Beelzebub,  sum  Belyalle. 

Thus  fyrst  begouth  Ydolatry, 

That  we  oys  to  call  Mawmentry. 


CHAP.    XIX. 

©ft  a  (ienealtfjji  till  here 
JJext  f0ix>toi0  in  thi0  (Chapiter. 


HYT  sulde  I  telle  a  Genealogy 
Fra  Sem  discendand  lynealy, 
Gyve  I  sulde  my  mater  bryng 
And  my  purpos  tyll  endyng. 

In  tyll  the  tyme  I  spak  off  thus, 
Semmys  swn  Pedagyus 
Gat  a  swn,  wes  cald  Gwale", 


CH.  xix.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  65 

That  syne  wes  fadyr  tyll  Adre ;  1690 

The  quhylk  gat  Stermonyus, 
That  fadyr  wes  off  Ermodius  ; 
Thare  eftyre  hys  swnne  Scealffy. 
That  fadyre  wes  off  Scealdy, 
Hys  swne  borne  gat  Tettius, 
That  fadyr  wes  syne  tyll  Gettius ; 
F.  17.  b.        Godduffus  eftyre  gat  Fynny, 

That  was  the  fadyre  off  Frealfy ; 

Fredwalde  eftyre,  gat  Woden ; 

He  fadyr  wes  off  mony  men.  1700 

Bot  Semmys  fyrst  swn  Arphaxat 
Gat  Caynan,  that  Ebere  gat. 
This  Caynan  wes  calde  Sale, 
Jerusalem  fyrst  fwndyt  he, 
And  off  hym  come  thai  halyly 
That  Ynde  fyrst  awcht,  and  Samary. 
Ebere  eftyre  gat  Phalek, 
In  hys  tyme  men  begouth  to  speke 
In  tyll  mony  twngys  sere, 

As  efftyre  that  thai  chawngyd  were,  1710 

Off  Ebrewe  the  langage  that  tyme  left 
Tyll  Phalekys  lynage  lange  thare-eft. 
In  hys  tyme  begouth  mawmentry 
That  we  oys  to  call  ydolatry. 
Phalek  the  fadire  wes  off  Eewe, 
Sum  oysyde  to  call  hym  Eagewe, 
In  the  tyme  that  this  Eewe  was 
Off  Sythy  fyrst  the  kynryke  ras. 
This  Eewe  to  swn  Sarwke  gat, 
Off  hym  come  ISTatore,  eftyre  that  1720 

In  this  Sarwkkys  tyme  on- one 
Off  Assyry  and  Sycyone 
VOL.  i.  E 


THE  CEONYKIL  OF  SCOTLAND.  [B.  I. 

The  kynrykis  ras  in  ryawte. 
Off  this  Nator  come  Tare. 
Babylon  in  tyll  hys  dayis 
Wes  byggyd,  as  the  story  sayis. 
Off  this  Tare  efftyre  that 
Come  Abraham  that  Isaac  gat. 

Here  the  Secownde  Elde  tayis  ende, 
As  the  Hebrwyis  mays  ws  kende,  1730 

Contenys  in  it  yhere  be  yhere, 
A  thowsand  and  twa  hwndyr  clere, 
And  twa  and  twenty  yhere,  but  mare. 
Bot  to  this  discordand  are 
The  Sewynty  wys  interpretowrys, 
For,  as  we  fynde  in  thare  Scriptowrys, 
A  thowsand  sevynty  yhere  and  sevyn, 
The.  Secownd  Elde  contenys  ewyn. 


[(Explicit  IPiber  $rimm] 


THE    SECUND    BUKE 


OF  THE 


OEYGYNALE    CRONYKIL 

OP   SCOTLAND. 


THE  SECUND  BUKE 

OF  THE 

OBYGYNALE    CBONYKIL 
OF   SCOTLAND. 


Proioug  off  tfje  Secunli  i3ufc 
In  tfjis  Cijapttere  nob)  gje  lufce. 


OW  have  yhe  Jberde  on  quhatkyn  wyis 
I  have  contenyt  this  Tretys, 
Fra  fyrst  fourmyt  wes  Adam, 
Tyll  this  tyme  nowe  off  Abraham, 
And  bathe  the  Eldys  has  tane  ende, 
As  in  all  storys  welle  is  kende, 
Contenand  hale  the  three  thowsand  yhere 
Nyne  scowre  and  foure  oure  passyt  clere  : 
The  quhilkys  as  Orosius 
18.         In  tyll  hys  Corny klys  telly s  ws,  10 

Ner  foryhet  ware  raklesly, 
(  Or  than  myskende  all  wtraly 
Wytht  thayme,  that  set  hale  thair  delyte 
Before  than  storys  for  to  wryte. 
Fra  Abraham  ande  Nynus  Kynge 
All  storys  tays  thaire  begynnyng ; 
As  Pompeus,  and  Justyne, 
Orosius  says,  and  Frere  Martyne. 


70  THE  CKONYKIL  [B.  II. 

Nowe  tharefore  in  to  certane  terme 

This  Tretys  furtht  I  wyll  afferme,  20 

Haldande  tyme  be  tyme  the  date, 

As  Orosius  qwhylum  wrate ; 

And  off  hys  Storys  tha  wyll  I 

Compyle,  that  me-thynk  mast  lykly 

Tyll  oure  Matere  accordande, 

And  tyll  yhowre  heryng  mast  plesand, 

Tyll  the  time,  that  efftyre  felle, 

Quhen  Jugis  jwgyde  Israelle. 

Bot  wytht  Orosyus  we  wyll  discorde 

In  tyll  oure  date,  qwhen  we  recorde 

Before  or  fra  the  byrth  off  Gode,  30 

Eeknand  yherys  ewyn,  or  ode : 

Beffor  or  fra  than  reknys  he 

The  yhere,  as  made  wes  the  Cyte. 


B.  II.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  71 


Ejje  Cfjaptterte  off  tfje  Secuntr  Bufce. 

i.  L/FF  Nynus  kyng,  and  his  slawchtyr. 

ii.  Off  Abrahamys  dayis. 

iii.  Off  Ysaakys  progenye. 

iiii.  Qwhen  fyrst  byggyde  wes  Eodis. 

v.  Off  Josephis  forsycht. 

vi.  Off  Dewcalyonys  Flude. 

vii.  Off  the  wrakis  off  Egype. 

viii.  Off  the  Scottis  Orygynale. 

ix.  Off  the  Yrsche  Orygynale. 

x.  Off  ane  othir  Geneologe. 

xi.  Off  Danaus  and  Egistus. 

xii.  Off  Josue  and  hys  days. 

xiii.  Off  the  Cretes  and  Atenyens. 

xiiii.  Off  the  Amynowtaure. 

xv.  Off  Wersozes  Kyng  off  Egipt. 

xvi.  Off  the  Wemen  Amazones. 

xvii.  Off  the  Assege  off  Troye. 


72  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  II. 


CHAR   I. 

Chapitm  telU0  hxrto  «0gtttt0  kgng; 
JJabUmte  in 


A.C.  2052.    JJEFOR  that  Jhesu  Cryst  wes  borne, 
To  sawffe  cure  lyff  that  wes  forlorne, 
Twa  thowsand  hale  and  fyfty  yhere, 
And  twa  yhere  owre,  to  rekyn  clere, 
F.  18.  b.         Nynus  kyng  off  Assyry, 

In  lust  off  lordschype,  and  fellownly, 
Tuk  wpe  armys  to  warray 
Sere  landys  that  abowt  hym  lay. 
All  Asy,  throwche  hys  cruelte, 
Wytht  were  and  batayle  dawntyde  he.  1  0 

Fyfty  yhere  hys  lyff  he  lede, 
And  mekyll  off  sakles  blwde  he  schede  ; 
All  the  landys  off  Sythy, 
And  othir  natyownys  thare  syndry, 
That  oysyde  to  lyff,  bot  synipyll  lyff, 
Wytht-owtyn  batall,  were,  or  stryff, 
And  lathe  wes  bargane  for  to  mowe, 
Or  in  tyll  were  thaire  pythys  prowe. 
Syk  lyff  he  kend  thame  for  to  lede, 
That  blude  off  men  in  slawchtyre  dede,  20 

Thai  oyside  to  drynk  mar  comownaly 
Than  rnylk  off  scheype,  or  gayt,  or  ky. 
Tyll  wyncust  he  thaim  kend  sa  fast, 
That  he  wes  wencust  at  the  last. 
Cam  that  calde  wes  Zorastes, 


CH.  i.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  73 

And  kyug  off  Baktryanys  qwhylum  wes, 

The  fyndare  off  nycromancy, 

Off  wychecraft  and  sorcery ; 

Fyrst  he  supprysyt  wytht  hys  mycht, 

And  slewe  hym  syne  wyth  fors  in  fycht.  30 

It  happnyd  eftyre  on  a  day, 

As  he  abowte  a  cyt4  lay, 

In  tyll  assege  as  man  off  were, 

Assayleyheande  it  wytht  hys  powere 

Sik  assawtys  thare  he  made, 

That  nere  the  towne  he  wonnyne  hade ; 

Ane  archare  in  a  kyrnale  stude, 

That  wele  behelde  quhare  Nynus  yhude, 

Hawand  in  hys  hand  a  bowe, 

Thare  in  he  set  a  brade  arowe,  40 

That  to  the  hwkis  wpe  he  drwe, 

And  wytht  that  schot  he  Nymis  slwe. 

Than  Semyramys,  his  wyff, 
That  led  in  lykyng  al  hyr  lyff, 
In  tyll  hyr  chawmbyr  than  syttand, 
Hyr  hayre  in  wympyll  ara'yand, 
Quhen  that  scho  herd  off  this  cas, 
Suppos  in  hart  scho  sary  wes, 
The  tane  half  off  hyr  hare  wnplet, 
Scho  gert  plat  on  hyr  hys  basynet,  50 

Wytht  othire  armys  gud  and  fyne, 
And  lape  apon  a  cursere  syne, 
And  to  the  towne,  but  mare  abade 
Arayit  wytht  hyr  ost  scho  rade, 
And  gert  thame  mak  thare  wpe  assawte, 
Wythowtyn  falyhyng  or  defawte, 
F.  19.         Qwhyll  that  scho  wonyn  hade  the  towne, 
And  broucht  it  to  confusyown. 


74  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  II. 

Fra  thine  hyr  lust  stwde  halyly 

In  slawchtyr  and  in  lychory.  60 

Fowrty  yhere  scho  lyvyt  and  twa, 
And  wandyt  na  mare  for  to  sla 
Hym  that  scho  gert  ly  hyr  by 
Than  hym  that  wes  hyr  inymy, 
Quhat  tyme  that  hyr  lykyng  stude, 
And  yharnyng  had  for  to  se  blude. 
Off  chawmbyr  play  scho  was  nevyre  sade, 
For  all  the  copy  that  scho  hade ; 
Scho  gert  oure  all  hyr  landys  cry, 
Be  statute  ordanyt  fermly,  70 

That  all  that  walde  in  lykyng  lyve, 
And  tyll  lust  thare  bodyis  gyve, 
Thai  sulde  in  all  be  als  fre 
As  it  mycht  lykand  to  thame  be. 
Tyll  sybredyn  haffand  na  knawlage 
And,  but  all  reverence  off  maryage, 
In  all  apport  scho  prowyt  man, 
Suppos  in  fourme  scho  wes  woman. 
All  Ethyope  scho  wane,  but  dowt, 
And  made  it  tyll  [hir]  wyndyrlowt ;  80 

Scho  passyd  in  Ynd  in  playne  bataylle, 
Qwhare  hyr  before  nane  durst  assaylle, 
Na  eftyr  hyr  wytht  fors  off  fycht 
Bot  Alexandyr,  that  wyth  hys  mycht 
Wane  Mede  and  Pers,  and  Ynde  allswa, 
And  all  the  lave  off  Asya. 
Bot  Ynde  in  tyll  hyr  tyme  wes  were 
To  wyn,  than  eftyr  hyre  befere, 
For  off  nakyn  wer  wyth-owte 
Na  wytht-in  thai  had  na  dowte  90 

Off  inwy,  na  cowatys, 


CH.  L]  OF  SCOTLAND.  75 

Na  falshede  that  thaim  mycht  supprys. 

Set  scho  lyvyt  in  terandry, 

In  governance  scho  wes  happy, 

And  avysy  wes  off  were, 

And  kowth  weylle  s4  for  hyr  mystyre. 

Hyr  landys  lyand  hyr  abowte 
Scho  stwffyt  weylle  wytht-owtyn  dowt, 
And  gert  thame  weyll  replenysyt  be 
Wytht  hors,  and  noyt,  and  othir  fe.  100 

Off  wyne  and  wax,  oyle  and  qwheyt, 
And  all  tyme  scho  had  copy  greyt. 
Off  froyte  that  grew  on  erd  and  tre 
Scho  had  in  all  tyme  gret  plente, 
Scho  gert  men  thraly  set  thaire  cure, 
Corne  to  wyne  wytht  thare  culture. 
F.  19.  b.          Off  Babylone,  bathe  towre  and  towne, 
Scho  made  gude  reformatyoune, 
And  kyrnalyt  it  perfytly, 

And  baytaylyd  it  rycht  propyrly,  110 

And  drewe  in  tyll  it  marchandys, 
Bowcht  and  sawlde  on  syndry  wys, 
And  helde  in  tyll  it  crafftys  sere, 
At  may  nowcht  all  be  reknyt  here. 
Amang  all  othir  comownaly 
Scho  lete  hyr  awne  swne  ly  hyr  by ; 
Swa  anys  as  scho  come  hym  tyll 
Hyr  fleschly  lust  for  to  fulfyll, 
Prevaly  he  gat  a  knyffe, 
Wytht  that  fra  hyr  he  refft  the  lyff.  120 

All  thus  qwhen  scho  endyt  was, 
Hyr  swne  succedyt,  Nynyas, 
The  swne  and  ayre  to  ISTynus  Kyng, 
And  had  that  lande  in  governyng. 


76  THE  CBONYKIL  [B.  II. 

And  efftyre  hyin  off  lynyage 

Succedyt  to  that  herytage 

Fourteyne  ayrys  syndrely, 

Be  lyne  descendand  evynly, 

Beffor  that  lordschype  was  wndone, 

As  yhe  may  here  eftyre  sone.  130 

This  Nynus  had  a  sone  alsua 
Sere  Dardane,  lord  de  Frygya, 
Fra  quhom  Barbere  sutely 
Has  made  a  propyr  genealogy 
Tyll  Eobert  oure  Secownd  kyng, 
That  Scotland  had  in  governyng. 
The  paganys  made  in  thaire  storys, 
That  is  bot  fabyll  or  fantys, 
That  Jupyter  gat  on  Electra, 

Sere  Dardane  lorde  off  Fregya :  140 

To  tell  yhowe  thaire-off  the  story 
Walde  do  as  nowe  bot  occupy 
Tyine,  and  walde  forthir  noucht 
Purpos  that  sulde  tyll  ende  be  browcht. 


CHAR  II. 

Jlbraham*  nxrto  0rhall  yhe  hete 
torsttine  in  ihw  €ha:pitm. 


A.C.  2010.     JLWA  thowsand  yhere  and  ten  beforne 
That  Cryst  wes  off  the  Madyn  borne, 
Quhen  that  fourty  yhere  and  ane 
Fra  Nynus  ras  ware  fully  gane, 
That  ane  folowand  the  nest  yhere, 
Abraham,  off  quhom  yhe  sail  nowe  here,  150 


CH.  IL]  OF  SCOTLAND.  7  7 

( 
Wes  borne,  and  than  ane  wes  he 

Off  the  sonnys  gottyn  off  Tare. 
He  lewyt  all  tym  wertusly, 
And  God  hyin  blyssyd  specyally, 
In  tyll  hys  tym  he  fand  of  newe 
F.  20.          To  wryt  lettyrys  off  Hebrewe, 
(For  the  bokis  that  Enok  wrate 
Drownyt  all  in  Noeys  spate). 
He  kend  the  Caldeys  perfytly, 
The  scyens  off  astronomy,  160 

He  gewe  fyrst,  in  tyll  hys  dayis 
Teyndis,  as  the  Bybyll  sayis, 
To  Melchesedek,  that  than  hade 
The  sowerayne  ordyre  off  Presthade, 
That  offeryt  tyll  Abraham  brede  and  wyne, 
That  blyssyt  hym,  and  devotly  syne, 
Quhen  that  he  come  hame  agayne, 
Fra  that  the  kyngis  foure  ware  slayne, 
Quhare  that  Loth  rescwyd  he, 
Wytht  all  hys  gude,  and  hys  menyhe,  170 

He  kende  the  Egyptis  wysly, 
The  scyens  off  geometry, 
The  Circumcysiowne  fyrst  tuke  he 
And,  as  we  fynde,  the  Jubile" 
Fyrst  in  hys  tym  fundyn  was, 
And  nowe  we  call  the  yherys  off  grace. 
A  sone  he  gat  on  Saray, 
That  Ysaak  was  calde  werraly. 
Ane  hundreth  yhere  quhen  he  wes  aulde, 
And  sevynty,  to  the  gast  he  yhalde,  180 

Quhen  all  hys  tyme  fulfillyde  wes, 
In  gud  eylde  and  in  rychtwysnes. 


78  THE  CRONYKIL  [B.  II. 


CHAP.   III. 

e  tdli0  dtxli 


©ft  3|0aaki0 


SAAK  weddyt  Eebecca, 
And  on  hyr  he  gat  sonnys  twa, 
Esaw  callyde  the  eldest, 
And  luwy t  wes  wytht  the  fadyre  best ; 
Jacob  callyde  wes  the  tothire, 
Off  byrth  he  wes  the  yhungest  brothire ; 
At  anys  the  modyr,  nevyrtheles, 
Off  thame  twa  delyvere  wes.  190 

In  huntyng  Esawe  had  delyte, 
Jacob  set  hym  for  profyte 
Off  come,  catelle,  or  off  fe, 
Quhare-wytht  he  mycht  sustenyt  be. 
Era  huntyng  Esawe  all  wery 
Come  on  a  day,  and  rycht  hungry, 
And  off  the  potage  walde  hawe  hade 
That  Jacob  tyll  hys  dynare  made, 
For  hym  thowcht  it  ane  harde  thrawe. 
Hwngyr  than  in  tyll  hale  mawe,  200 

F.  20.  b.         That  Jacob  warnyde  hym  wtraly, 
Bot  gyff  he  saulde  hym  halely, 
All  hys  awantage  and  hys  gre, 
That  for  as  eldest  hys  sulde  be. 
Than  Esaw,  for-owtyn  lete, 
For  hungyr  that  he  wes  in  sete, 
For  a  dysfulle  off  potage, 
Gawe  wpe  alle  hale  hys  herytage. 


CH.  in.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  79 

Thus  Jacob  wane  the  eldest  gre, 

Thowcht  yhungar  in  the  byrthe  was  he.  210 

Syne  how  this  Jacob  sleely 

Prewenyde  hys  brodyre  qweyntlye, 

Quhen  throwcht  hys  modyre  suggestyowne, 

He  wan  his  fadyr  benysowne  ; 

How  syne  off  thir  brethire  twa, 

Jowys  and  Gentyle  come  alsua, 

Than  Gentyle  was  all  generaly, 

That  come  noucht  discendand  lynealy 

Fra  Jacob  be  successiowne, 

Na  off  hys  generatyown.  220 

Jowys  fra  thine  wes  in  that  gre 

That  Cristymnen  now  in  yhe  se. 

This  Jacob  was  callyd  Israelle, 

Era  wytht  hym  wyrstyllyde  the  Angelle, 

As  in  the  Bybyll  wryttyn  is, 

In  to  that  Buk  callyde  Genesis. 

This  Jacob  on  hys  wyffis  twa, 
Eachell  callyde  and  Lya, 
Gat  sonnys  twelf,  and  Judas 

Ane  off  thai  twelff  sonnys  was.  230 

Thir  twelff,  that  I  yhowe  off  telle, 
The  Tribus  are  off  Israelle, 
Off  quhome  come  oure  suet  Lady, 
Goddys  modyr,  myld  Mary. 
Tribus  may  be  the  lyniage 
Propyrly  calde  in  oure  langage. 
Thai  had  in  tyll  possessyowne 
The  land  off  repromyssyowne. 

[Foremus]  on  Nyabe 

In  to  this  tyme  gat  Phorone.  240 

He  wes  the  fyrst  [that]  in  hys  dawys 


80  THE  CKONYKIL  [B.  II. 

Ordanyt  in  to  Grece  the  lawys, 
And  before  jugys  ordanyt  he, 
Be  plede  causys  mot  to  be. 
He  ordanyt  [als]  the  jugis  sete 
To  be  for  that  oys  the  markete  ; 
Forum  he  gert  it  calde  be, 
Eftyre  hys  awne  name,  calde  Forone. 
In  Latyne,  that  is  the  name  yhit 
F.  21.         Off  that  at  we  call  the  markyte.  250 

Ysis  that  was  hys  systere  syne, 
In  Egypte  passyde  be  nawyn, 
And  thare  scho  kend  thame  letteratur, 
And  corne  to  wyne  wytht  thare  culture. 
For-thi  thai  sayde  that  scho  thare  wes 
Amang  thare  goddys  as  a  goddes. 
Apis,  thai  say,  that  he  sulde  be 
A  sone  off  this  Forone. 
He  pasd  the  se  in  Egypte  than, 
Qwhare,  thai  sayde,  he  wes  weddyt  man  260 

Tyll  this  woman  calde  Ysys, 
And  gode  wes  calde  wyth  thare  fayre  goddys, 
And  Syrapis  wes  eftyre  callyde, 
As  I  fynde  in  storys  eftyre  taulde. 

The  madyn  that  tym  Mynerva, 
Besyde  a  louch  in  Affryca 
Wes  fwndyn  fyrst,  that  [craffcis]  sere 
Kend  weylle  be  werk  and  be  matere. 
The  wemen  that  tym  off  the  land 
Scho  gert  thraly  be  wyrkand,  270 

And  mast  in  wolle  to  kerne  and  spyn, 
And  clathys  wewe  to  be  cled  in. 
This  Mynerva  that  than  was 
Eftyre  that  was  callyde  Pallas ; 


CH.  iv.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  81 

In  Tracya  is  swylke  ane  yle, 

Thare  in  scho  noryst  wes  sum  quhylle ; 

And  as  scho  slayne  hade  a  geande 

That  to  name  was  callyd  Pallande, 

Tharefor  Pallas  was  hyre  name, 

That  maydyn  off  so  ryalle  fame.  280 


CHAP.   IV. 


Chapiter  nrrto  telU0 
!)0to  tyt&i  inhabit  to*0  1UM0. 


A 


THOWSAND  and  sex  hundyr  yhere 

Foure  scor,  foure  les  to  rekyne  clere, 

Before  the  Incarnatyoune 

That  made  all  oure  salvatyoune, 

A  folk  that  callyd  wes  Telchyses, 

And  Caratays  that  wytht  thame  wes, 

Ease  agayne  Sere  Forone*, 
[        Off  Argos  that  tyme  kyng  wes  he. 

He  haid  in  tyll  hys  company 

A  folk  than  callyd  Parakasy;  290 

Thir  landys  all  in  Grece  ar  hale, 

Suppos  thare  lordschypys  be  severale. 

The  Telchyis  wencust  in  that  fycht, 

Be-huwyd  on  neyde  to  ta  the  flycht, 

Fra  pres  off  men  to  halde  thame  fre 

And  in  to  pes  to  lywande  be. 
F.  21.  b.     The  He  off  Kodys  than  tuke  thai 

And  it  inhabytyt  fra  that  day, 

Be  thame  and  thare  successyown 

For  trayst  and  fre  possessyown.  300 

VOL.  i.  F 


82  THE  CRONYKIL  [B.  II. 


CHAP.  V. 

dthappter  0chall  t*U  phxrto  rgcht 
togt  attb  h^0  tor0pcht. 


.ZX  THOWSAND  and  sewyn  hundyre  yhere, 

And  ane  and  saxty  reknyt  clere, 

Befor  the  Natyvyte, 

In  Egypte  that  fertylyte 

Begowth  to  rys  in  Josephys  dayis, 

As  in  hys  cronykyll  Orose  sayis, 

Sewyn  yher  owt  contynnand, 

Wytht  othir  sevyn  nest  folowand 

Off  gret  derth  and  hungare  sare  ; 

That  had  the  pupylle  noyit  mare,  310 

Ne  ware  that  Joseph,  wytht  hys  wyt, 

Hade  sene  remede  and  helpe  for  it. 

Jacobys  sone  this  Joseph  was, 

Perfyt,  and  off  sik  connandnas 

That  he  cowth  wele  bayth  ken  and  se 

Quhat  land  suld  yhelde  or  fertyll  be. 

He  wes  the  fyrst  that  dremys  rede 

That  men  seys  slepand  in  thare  bede  ; 

Off  swylk  mystyk  wysyownys 

He  mad  gud  exposytyownys.  320 

His  bredyre  ten  salde  hym  for-thi 

Tyll  strang  merchandys  for  inwy. 

Than  had  hym  in  tyll  Egypt  than, 

Thare  he  be-come  the  kyngys  man, 

That  helde  hym  in  tyll  gret  daynte", 

And  put  hys  gud  in  hys  powste. 


CH.  v.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  83 

His  brodyre  than  that  had  hym  saulde, 
As  I  to  yow  be-fore  has  talde 
Slew  a  kyde,  and  in  the  blude 
Wet  the  gown  that  he  in  yhude,  330 

And  ghert  hys  fadyre  be  that  ken 
That  wolwys  had  hym  weryid  then. 
•    Nevertheles,  for  hys  bownte", 

Wytht  the  kyng  welle  lufyt  wes  he 
Off  Egypt,  als  and  wytht  the  Quene. 
Fra  scho  off  hym  a  sycht  had  sene, 
[Scho]  walde  have  gert  hym  ly  hyr  by : 
Bot  he  refoysit  that  curtasly, 
For  the  wyrchype  off  hys  larde, 
That  all  hys  gude  put  in  hys  warde ;  340 

Bot  alanerly  the  Quene, 
Scho  raryde  lowde  wyth  cryis  kene, 
Sayd  Joseph  wald  haffe  lyne  hyr  by, 
F.  22.         Qwha're  to  [scho]  wowyt  hym  besely. 
Than  was  he  put  in  hard  presowne 
Quhyll  the  Kyng  gat  [a]  vesyown, 
Slepand  sawe  in  tyll  hys  bede, 
That  nane  cowth  than  bot  Joseph  rede, 
He  tauld  hym  be  that  drem  in  all 
How  thai  fourteyne  yhere  sulde  falle.  350 

Than  made  he  Joseph,  off  hys  laud, 
Stewarde  hale  and  lufteuand ; 
He  ghert  that  sevyn  yhere  gadryt  be 
Alkyne  korne  in  swylk  plente, 
That  in  tyll  tyme  off  hungar  sare, 
The  folk  that  full  relevyde  ware, 
And  othir  mony  cowntre  sere, 
Tyll  Egypt  that  tym  drawyn  were, 
To  by  wyttaylle  for  thare  fude. 


84  THE  CRONYKIL  [B.  II. 

Thus  Joseph,  throwch  hys  wertu  gude,  360 

Stuffyt  hys  lord  weylle  off  mcne", 

And  gert  the  folk  relewyde  be, 

And  throwcht  hys  slycht,  and  hys  quentys, 

Off  Egypte  all  the  tennandrys 

He  redemyt  thare  agayne, 

And  mayde  thame  to  the  kyng  demayne  ; 

And  in  husbandry  for  ferme, 

like  yhere  at  certane  terme, 

He  set  thai  landys  and  the  male, 

The  fyft  part  off  thare  wynnyng  hale,  370 

like  yhere,  in  tyll  certane, 

At  terraes  to  the  kyng  was  tane ; 

And  in  tyll  Egypte  yhit  thai  say 

That  lawch  is  kepyt  to  this  day. 

And  for  sik  wertu  as  he  pruwyt, 

Sowerandly  hys  lard  hym  lufyt, 

And  gawe  hym  large  and  full  powere 

To  do  that  lykand  tyll  hym  were. 

Hys  brethir  than  come  tyll  hym  als, 
(That  for  inwy  and  cownsale  fals,  380 

For  the  dremys  that  he  taulde, 
To  strang  marchandys  hade  hym  saulde,) 
To  by  off  hym  wyttayle  thare, 
For  in  tyll  gret  dystres  thai  ware : 
Bot  knawlage  off  hym  had  thai  nane, 
He  kend  thaim  nevyrtheles  ilkane, 
And  on  thame  threpyt  thai  ware  spyis, 
Or  to  the  kyng  kyd  innymys. 
All  thus  he  taryid  thame  so  fast 
Tyll  thame  behuvid  at  the  last,  390 

For  tyll  lewe  ane  wytht  hym  on  nede, 
The  lawe  tyll  pas  hame  full  gud  spede, 


CH.  v.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  85 

And  in  hy  tyll  hym  to  bryng 
Benjamin,  thaire  brodyre  yhing, 
Thai  left  than  wytht  hym  Symeon 
F.  22.  b.         And  hame  thai  passyd  sone  on-one. 

Thai  taulde  thare  fadyr  how  thai  ware 

Anoyid  in  tyll  Egypt  sare  ; 

And  Benjamin  yhet,  at  the  last, 

Wytht  thame  in  tyll  Egypt  past,  400 

Mekyll  agayne  hys  fadyr  wylle, 

That  had  his  presumptyoune  off  thaim  ille. 

Yhet  ware  thai  set  in  hardare  pres 

Fra  Benjamyn  thare  cummyn  wes  ; 

Bot  at  the  last  Joseph  thame  taulde 

He  wes  thare  bruthire  that  thai  saulde, 

And  for  thare  hele  in  to  that  land 

God  had  hym  sawyt  than  lefand  : 

Than  for  his  fadyr  he  gert  thame  pas, 

That  taulde  hym  Joseph  lewand  was ;  410 

With  that  worde  he  was  so  fayne 

That  his  speryt  quyknyt  agayne, 

And  buskyt  hym  delyverly 

In  Egipt  for  to  pas  in  hy, 

To  se  hys  sone  that  for  hym  sende, 

And  thare  hys  lyff  for  to  take  end. 

All  thus,  as  yhe  have  herd  me  telle, 

In  Egypt  fyrst  come  Israelle. 

In  this  tyme  Primotheus  yhing, 
Off  Caucasus  bay  the  lorde  and  kyng,  420 

Wytht  in  the  landys  off  Asy, 
Kend  thame  fyrst  phylosophy ; 
He  wes  the  brodyre  off  Atland, 
That  kyng  was  than  off  Affrykland, 
Thai  fenyhe  that  tyme  he  mad  men, 


86  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  II. 

For  cans  he  gert  thame  craftis  ken ; 

Figuris  off  men  he  made  alsua, 

The  quhylkis  he  gart  be  craftis  ga. 

Ryngys  fyrst  he  gert  men  were, 

Thaim  he  gert  the  niyd  fyngyre  bere,  430 

For  fra  that  to  the  hart,  he  sayde, 

Ane  [ejwyn  strekande  wayne  wes  layde  ; 

And  alsua  for  mast  belysyng, 

Thare-on  he  gert  thame  were  the  ryng. 

Tritolomus,  that  tyme  alsua 
Be  nawyne  passyd  in  Grecia, 
Thare  he  kend  thame  wytht  mare  cure, 
Than  thai  ware  wont  to  ma  culture. 
That  tyme  alsua  Dame  Ceres, 
That  off  corne  wes  callyde  goddes,  440 

Fyrst  gert  corne  wytht  mesure  mete, 
As  boll,  or  pek,  or  wytht  fyrlete, 
Quhare  befor  bot  in  to  stake, 
Or  hepys  on  erde  thai  oysyde  to  make, 
F.  23.         Tharefor  scho  was  callyde  Demetra 
In  all  the  land  off  Grecya. 


CHAP.   VI. 


(JDff  ]8£tocal;g0nj}0  flttbs 

htlls0  heg  jsmtttgnte  mtr-ghtibe. 


A 


THOUSAND  and  fyve  hundyr  yhere, 
Thre  score  and  twa,  to  rekyn  clere, 
Befor  the  Incarnatyoune, 

In  Athenys  Amphytryone,  450 

The  fadyr  than  off  Ercules, 


CH.  vi.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  87 

That  the  gret  geand  quhylum  wes, 

Fra  Cycrope  wes  the  thryde  kyng 

That  hade  Athenys  in  governyng. 

Than  all  the  folk  off  Tessaly 

Had  nere  bene  drownyt  suddanly 

Wytht  a  fers  falland  flude, 

Thai  ware  a  fewe  tyll  hyllys  yhude. 

Wpone  ane  hille  was  callyd  Parnas 

Thare  thai  ware  that  sawfyt  was.  460 

All  the  landys  thare  abowt 

Dewcalyone  than  aucht,  but  dowt 

That  resawyt  wytht  gud  wylle 

All  tha  that  that  tyme  fled  hym  tylle, 

The  men  that  tyme  thai  said  wndone, 

Wes  throw  hym  reformyd  sone. 

For  this  Dewcalion  in  thai  dayis 
Wytht  hys  wyff  Pyrra,  Owyde  sayis, 
Ay  wpe  fra  hyll  tyll  hylle  past, 
And  on  the  hyest  at  the  last  470 

Thai  oure-bade  that  felowne  flude, 
o        And  to  the  planys  than  thai  yhude ; 
Thare  thaire  frendys  and  thare  kyn 
Thai  myssyd  all,  bathe  mare  and  myn, 
Na  thai  couth  fynd  na  lyvand  man 
In  all  thai  landys  sterand  than, 
Thai  ware  wndone  so  halyly, 
All  drownyt  in  that  dyluwy. 
Than  tyll  a  cove  Dewcalyon, 

And  hys  wyff  Pyrra,  passyd  onone,  480 

And  devotly  thai  mad  thare 
Tyll  a  goddes  thare  prayare, 
Tyll  wyttyre  thame,  for  hyr  pyte, 
How  mankynd  mycht  reformyt  be. 


88  THE  CRONYKIL  [B.  II. 

Thus  quhyll  thai  ware  prayand  fast. 
Thai  war  ansuert,  at  the  last, 
Owt  off  the  cove  that  thai  sulde  ga, 
And  thare  modyre  banys  ta, 
And  tha  be-hynd  thame  thai  sulde  cast. 
Than  owt  off  the  cove  thai  past,  490 

And  esytyde  on  gret  man  ere, 
F.  23.  b.      Quhat  sulde  betakyn  this  ansuere. 
For  sua  the  Spat  had  all  oure-gane 
That  thai  gat  nowthire  flesch  na  bane 
Off  thare  modyr,  and  for-thi 
Thai  ferlyid  off  this  hugely. 
Thus  quhill  thai  studyit  this  Pyrra, 
The  first  spekyne  begouth  to  ma ; 
For  rydely  wylis  in  wemen 

Sunriere  apperys  than  in  men ;  500 

Scho  sayde,  "  I  can  be  na  way  trowe 
That  othir  modyre  have  we  nowe 
Than  the  erde,  and  the  stanys 
Ar  thare-off,  as  I  trowe,  the  banys. 
Tharefore  I  red  that  we  ga  fast, 
And  lat  behynd  ws  stanys  kast." 
Wytht  this  Deucalyon  dyde  all  hale, 
As  Pyrra  gawe  hym  to  consalle, 
And  off  tha  castys  eftyre  grewe 
Men  and  wemen  all  off  newe ;  510 

Swa  off  thare  kyn  thai  stuffyt  the  land 
Qwhar  before  thai  war  duelland. 

Eftyre  gret  mortalyteis 
Yhet  men  thus  growys  in  sere  cuntreis. 
In  to  the  kynryc  yhett  off  Frawnce 
Is  nane  so  redy  craft  no  chawnce 
Off  [auld]  kyn  newe  to  fynde, 


CH.  vii.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  89 

Than  to  cast  stanys  fast  behynde. 

For-thi,  tyll  conclusyoune 

Off  this  reformatyoune,  520 

This  Ovide  maide  thir  ilk  wers, 

In  metyre,  that  I  wyll  rehers. 

(Inde  genus  durum  sumus  experiens  quoque 
malum : 

Et  documenta  damus,  qua  simus  origine  nati.) 
"  Thareoff,  he  says,  be  kynd  we  ta 
For  tyll  be  dowre  and  harde  alsua, 
And  we  mak  kend  in  propyrte 
Quharoff  ony  kynd  suld  commyn  be." 

All  this  that  I  rehersyt  nowe 
Standys  yow  noucht  on  nede  to  trowe, 
For  thare  is  nane  that  can  this  rede 
Amange  the  Artikyllys  off  the  Crede.  530 


CHAR   VII. 


Chapiter*  rtxrto  toill  ghoto  hilt 
torakis  that  in  (Ejjipe  fell. 


A 


THOWSAND  and  fyve  hundyre  yhere, 
And  sevyn  and  fowrty  hale,  but  were, 
[Before  the  Incarnatioun, 
That  was  oure  salvatioun] 
The  wrakys  ten  in  Egypt  ras, 
For  that  Israelle  anoyit  was 
In  serwytute  and  fowle  thrylage, 
Throwcht  the  Kyng  and  hys  barnage, 
F.  24.         That  in  tylle  Egypt  ras  of  newe 

And  off  Joseph  no  thyng  knewe ;  540 


90  THE  CRONYKIL  [B.  IL 

Bot  thowcht  ille  in  sic  multitwde 

That  alyenys  amang  thame  stwde. 

Quhen  Jacob,  as  yhe  hard  me  telle, 

That  callyde  befor  wes  Israelle, 

Hys  son  Joseph  for  to  se 

In  Egypt  pasd  wytht  his  menyhe, 

And  browcht  in  wyth  hym,  taulde  and  sene 

Thre  scor  off  bodyis  and  fyftene, 

That  wytht  hym  in  tyll  Egypt  past 

And  thare  syne  thai  grewe  so  fast,  550 

Off  industry  and  ingyne, 

In  byrth,  and  off  wertu  syne, 

And  off  welth  in  sufficyans, 

And  ryches  in  tyll  haboundans, 

That  the  Egyptys  for  inwy 

Anoyit  thame  dispituisly, 

And  in  thaire  werk  thayme  pynowrys  made 

That  growyn  wp  was  in  manhade, 

The  Kyng  gert  commawnd,  but  remede, 

The  knawe  barnys  sulde  be  put  to  dede  560 

Off  Israelytys  [ewyr]-ilkane, 

Than  to  be  borne  that  sauff  ware  nane  ; 

Bot  all  the  madyne  barnys  he 

Than  to  be  borne  bad  sawfyde  be. 

Thus  that  Kyng  and  hys  barnage 
Helde  this  folk  in  gryt  thryllage, 
Na  wald  delyver  on  na  wys 
Thame  to  mak  thare  sacrifyce 
Tyll  God  off  mycht,  in  wyldyrnes, 
As  [he]  was  byddyn  be  Moyses,  570 

Quhille  fyrst  thare  wattyre  turnyt  in  blude, 
Paddokkis  syne  thare  land  our-yhude, 
Syne  byttyn  thai  ware  wytht  cynyphes, 


CH.  vii,]  OF  SCOTLAND.  91 

That  a  kynde  off  gleggys  wes, 
And  alkyn  kynd  off  gleggys  als, 
That  gart  thame  yhuke  baythe  hede  and  hals. 
Syne  in  thare  bleddyris  boldnyt  bylys, 
And  alkyn  bruke  and  scab  that  vyle  is, 
Syne  comune  qwalm  off  all  thare  fe, 
That  scheype,  or  nowyt,  or  gayte  sulde  be,          580 
And  at  the  last  in  generale 
All  thaire  ayrys  deyde  hale, 
Be  so  fers  mortal[it]e, 
That  nane  in  to  that  lande  wes  fre, 
Than  hys  eldest  barne  wes  dede, 
But  ony  manere  off  remede, 
i  Quhyll  off  the  land  thai  lete  thame  pas. 

Moyses  than  thare  chyftane  was, 
F.  24.  b.         And  gawe  thame  lawys  to  lyve  by, 

Wrytyn  in  the  Mownt  off  Synay.  590 

In  Egypte  als  quha  wald  kene 

Thare  felle  than  wrakis  ma  than  tene, 

As  sayis  the  Buke  off  Exodi, 

Quha  wyll  it  se  perfytly, 

But  for  thai  war  noucht  all  so  felle, 

Swa  apert,  na  swa  cruelle, 

Thai  ar  foryhet  wytht  autoiys  sere 

That  mentyown  mays  off  this  mater ; 

Bot  eftyr  thame,  as  sum  men  sayis, 

War  notyt  the  forbodyn  dayis,  600 

In  ilk  moneth  off  the  yhere, 

Begynand  fyrst  in  Januere. 

Bot  thai  of  Egypt  noucht  for-thi, 

Swa  wys  ware  in  astronomy, 

That  it  is  noucht  to  trowe  thai  walde 

All  thir  dayis  forbodyn  halde, 


92  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  II. 

Na  thai  walde  in  thame  begyne 

And  do  that  thai  saw  profyt  in 

As  to  byggyn,  and  to  wyage 

In  marchandys  or  pilgrimage  ;  610 

Bot  off  the  elementis  sere 

Thai  that  hafys  thaire  matere, 

Or  felys  thare  complexiownys 

Movyd  be  constellatyownys 

Discordand,  it  ware  noucht  to  skylle 

That  thir  dayis  ware  kepyt  tylle 

The  Egyptis  in  perplexyte, 

For  dowt  thare  land  sulde  peryst  be, 

And  wytht  thai  wengeance  all  wndone ; 

Sum  off  thame  tuk  purpos  sone  '620 

Out  off  [that]  land  all  qwyt  to  pas ; 

Ane  Dynys  Bachus  off  thaine  was, 

That  for  that  dowt  aU  Egypt  left, 

And  Argos  mad  in  Grece  thareft. 

He  kende  the  men  off  that  cuntre 

Off  wynys  the  subtylyte, 

Quhare[-in]  he  conand  was  in  alle ; 

Tharfore  hym  god  off  wyne  thai  calle. 

That  tyme  als  Cycrope  kyng 

Off  Egypte  drede  the  wndoyng,  630 

In  to  Grece  sone  comyn  was, 

Duelland  fra  thine  in  Athenas. 


CH.VIII.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  93 


CHAP.  VIII. 

10  Chapttm  sail  tell  ghato  all  hale 
the  <Si:0tti0 


'WTE  off  Sythy  in  that  quhylle 
In  to  Grece  come  Schyre  Newylle, 
That  wes  off  deid  a  worthy  man, 
And  in  to  Grece  gryt  lordschype  wan : 
He  wes  nere  in  the  twenty  degr<$ 
Be  lyne  discendande  fra  Noye, 
Off  his  yhungast  son,  but  lete, 

F.  25.        That  to  name  was  callyd  Japhete.  640 

Off  Sem  hys  brodyre  come  Presthade ; 
And  off  this  Japhet  come  Knychthade. 
This  Newyle  was  fra  this  Noye, 
As  I  sayde  ayre,  the  twenty  degre", 
And  had  a  sone  callyd  Gedyelle-Glays  ; 
And  as  the  story  off  hym  says, 
To  wiff  weddyt  Scota  yhing 
Pharois  douchtyr  off  Egypt  kyng. 
This  Gedeyl-Glays  was  off  gret  pyth, 
And  warnyst  weyle  off  wyt  thar-wyth  ;  650 

He  gat  on  Scota  barnys  fayre, 
And  ane  of  thai  sulde  have  bene  ayre 
Tyll  Pharao,  that  drownyt  was 
In  to  the  Eeide  Se,  at  that  chas, 
That  the  Egyptis  maid  so  felle 
Wpon  the  folk  off  Israelle ; 
Quhare  all  that  folk  our-passyd  dry, 
The  Egyptis  drownyt  halyly. 


94  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  II. 

This  Gedeyl-Glays,  quhen  he  sawe 
The  land  off  Egypt,  hey  and  la  we,  660 

That  in  all  thyng  wes  profytabille, 
And  tyll  hys  lyvyng  delytabylle, 
Hys  duellyng  thare  he  thoucht  to  ma, 
And  hys  awautage  off  it  to  ta, 
Sen  hys  barnys  apperyt  to  be 
Lordis  off  that  ryawte. 
Bot  the  barnage  off  the  land, 
That  remaynyde  than  lywand, 
Thoucht  thai  ware  agrevyt  sare 
Throw  the  wrakis,  thai  tholyt  are :  670 

Be  that  ensawmpyll,  off  consalle 
All  alienys  thai  banyst  hale. 
Quharefor  this  ilke  Gedeil-Glays 
Hys  way  owte  off  that  [lande]  he  tays, 
And  throwcht  the  Meyre  Medyterrayne 
He  passyde,  quhille  he  come  in  Spayne  ; 
And  on  the  watter  off  Hybery 
He  byggyde  the  towne  off  Brygancy : 
Thare  nowe  the  towne  is  off  Galys, 
'  Quhare  that,  thai  say,  Sanct  Jamys  lyis :  680 

And  thai  that  duelt  than  iii  that  land 
He  gert  be  tyll  hym  obeysand. 
Syne,  as  he  passyde  on  a  day 
Throwcht  that  land  in  tyll  his  play, 
Oure  fra  hym  be-yhonde  a  s6" 
He  kend  lyand  a  gret  cuntre. 
Than  speryt  he  thraly  off  that  land, 
Quha  sulde  be  in  tyll  it  duelland ; 
Bot  ansuere  tharof  gat  he  nane, 
Na  nakyn  knawlage  in  certane.  690 

F.  25.  b.     In  hy  than  gert  he  schyppys  thre 


CH.  VIIL]  OF  SCOTLAND.  95 

Wytht  armyd  men  sone  stuffyt  be, 

And  gert  thame  pas  be  Se  thare  way 

To  se  that  laud  how  that  it  lay, 

And  gyff  that  it  wes  eyth  to  wyn, 

And  quha  was  duelland  it  wythtin. 

Wytht  wynd  at  wyll  that  folk  than  past, 

And  in  the  land  come  at  the  last 

At  ane  yle,  wes  in  the  se, 

Off  gret  space  and  off  quantyte :  700 

Bot  thai,  that  duelt  in  to  that  yle, 

Wnhonest  was  and  inutyle ; 

Tharefore  thai,  that  come  to  spy 

That  land,  thai  dressyt  wnmoderly ; 

For  sum  off  thame  thai  slewe  rycht  thare 

Wytht  arys,  sum  thai  dang  rycht  sare. 

[And  thay  that  happenit  to  get  away 

Held  to  their  schippis,  but  delay.] 

Syne  alle  that  yle  thai  passyde  abowt, 

And  sawe  thai  mycht,  but  drede  or  dowte,          710 

Wyn  it  hally  to  thare  wylle, 

Swa  that  thai  wertu  had  thare-tylle. 

Thai  tuk  wpe  sayle,  and  passyd  in  hy 

Wytht  wynd  at  wyll  to  Brygancy 

Quhare  Gedeyl-Glays  wes  our-tane 

Off  case  wytht  dede  than  subitane  ; 

Bot  his  body  wytht  honowre 

Wes  put  in  tyll  honest  sepultoure 

Wytht  swylk  oys  and  solempnyte, 

As  that  tyme  wes  in  that  cuntre  720 

Thir  spyis  taulde  hys  barnys  sone, 
In  to  that  He  howe  thai  [had]  done ; 
And  said  that  it  wes  eytht  to  wyn, 
For  thai,  that  duelt  that  He  within, 


96  THE  CKONYKIL  [B.  II. 

War  sottys  wyle  off  na  walu, 

Na  governyde  thame  be  na  wertu  ; 

And  at  that  land  wes  profytabille 

And  tyll  all  levyng  dylitabylle  : 

Tharefor  thai  sayde,  it  wes  thare  wylle, 

And  full  consaylle  thai  gawe  thar-tylle,  730 

For  to  pass  that  He  wytht-in, 

And  it  be  conquest  to  thame  wyn, 

And  wytht  thare  stuffe  it  occupy 

For  thame  and  tharis  herytabilly  ; 

Repruwand  thame  as  sottis  wyle ; 

Sene  thai  mycht  doutles,  but  peryle, 

Tyll  thame  and  all  thare  lynyage 

That  lordschipe  wyn  in  herytage, 

For  to  leve  it  fayntly, 

And  lyve  as  lowndreris  cayttevely.  740 

A  sone  off  Gedeyl-Glays  than, 
Heber,  that  was  a  douchty  man, 
Thoucht  it  wes  tyll  hym  lywyng  fayre, 
Syne  he  wes  noucht  hys  fadyre  ayre ; 
He  sone  inclynyd  to  thare  consalle, 
And  chesyt  hym  men,  and  gat  wytalle, 
F.  26.          And  layde  his  schyppys  to  the  Se, 
And  entryde  in  wytht  hys  menyhe. 
He  tuke  wpe  sayle,  and  furth  he  past, 
And  in  the  He  come  at  the  last :  750 

Alle  the  men  thare  he  slewe  down, 
That  was  noucht  tyll  hys  byddyng  bown ; 
Off  the  lave  he  tuk  homage. 
Thus  all  that  land  in  herytage 
He  wane  all  hale,  and  maid  it  fre 
Tyll  hym  and  hys  posteryte. 
So  occupyid  he  furth  the  land 


CB.  IX.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  97 

Wytht  all,  that  evyr  thare-in  he  fand, 

And  Scotland  gert  call  that  He, 

For  honowre  off  hys  modyr  quhille,  760 

That  Scota  was  wytht  all  men  calde, 

As  yhe  [haf]  herd  before  be-talde. 

Hybernia  thai  callyd  it  syne 

Off  tihis  Hiberus,  in  Latyne, 

That  Yrland  we  ws  to  calle 

Now  in  to  oure  langage  alle. 

Off  Hiber  thai  come  halyly, 

Tha  we  oys  to  call  Yrschery ; 

And  this  lady  callyd  Scota 

All  thir  Scottis  ar  cummyn  fra,  770 

As  yhe  may  in  this  proces  here, 

Quhen  we  ar  cummyn  to  that  matere. 


CHAP.  IX. 


<S)tt  oihn  torn*  this  Chapitere 
the  Drsrh*  rtimmjm  torn. 


B, 


>OT  be  the  Brwte,  yhit  Barbare  sayis, 
Off  Yryschry  all  othir  wayis, 
That  Gurgwnt-Badruk  quhille  wes  kyng, 
And  Bretayne  had  in  governyng ; 
Worthy  wycht  and  wyse  wes  he. 
As  [he]  passyd  anys  oure  the  s^ 
Fra  Denmark,  that  he  wonnyn  hade, 
Be  Orknay  hame  he  tuk  the  trade ;  780 

And  thare  schyppys  he  fand  thretty 
Wytht  off  Spaynalys  a  cumpany, 
That  flemyt  ware  off  thaire  cuntre*, 
VOL.  I.  G 


98  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  II. 

And  lang  ware  waverand  on  the  se\ 

Partoloym,  that  the  ledare  was 

Off  thame,  besoucht  the  Kyng  off  gras 

Tyll  tak  thame  tyll  hym  off  duellyng, 

And  gyff  thame  land  for  thare  wonnyng. 

He  send  wytht  thame  sum  off  his  men 

Tyll  Yrland,  that  was  noucht  yhit  then  790 

Inhabityde,  bot  wes  wast  haly : 

Off  this  folk  come  the  Yryschry, 

That  duelt  in  Yrland  to  this  day, 

And  Yrysch  off  Yrland  callyd  ar  thai. 

Yhit  is  thare  odyre  awtorys  sere, 
That  tretis  part  of  this  matere ; 
Bot  thai  oys  noucht  to  tell  hys  name, 
F.  26.  b.         Hys  state,  his  gre,  na  yhyt  hys  fame, 
Off  quhame  the  Yrysch  cumyn  are ; 
Bot  sayis,  quhen  that  Egyptys  ware  800 

Drownyde  in  the  Reid  Se, 
The  lave,  that  levyt  in  that  cuntre", 
Banyst  fra  thame  a  gentyll-man, 
That  duelland  amangys  thame  wes  than ; 
A  Sytyk  he  wes  off  natyowne, 
Conand  in  all  discretyoune. 
Thai  dowtyd  at  hys  senyhoury 
Suld  thame  abawndown  halyly, 
Be  that  ensawmpyll,  that  thai  ware 
Befor  throucht  strangerys  noyid  sare.  810 

This  gentyll-man  and  hys  menyhe 
Gat  schyppyng  sone,  and  tuk  the  so", 
And  saylyd  Affryk  all  abowt 
Drewyn  wytht  syndry  stormys  stoute, 
And  by  othire  costis  sere, 
That  spedys  noucht  to  rekyn  here ; 


CH.  ix.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  99 

Syne  in  to  [the]  Spaynyhe  s4 

He  hapnyd  to  cum  wytht  his  menyhe, 

Quhare  he  tuke  land ;  and  mony  yhere 

He  and  hys  thare-in  duelland  were  :  820 

Sa  he  and  all  hys  progeny 

Held  that  land  ay  herytabylly. 

Owte  off  Spaynyhe  than  in  Irland 
Thai  come,  and  wan  all  hale  that  land, 
Quhen  passyd  wes  twelf  hundyr  yhere 
Era  the  Egyptis  drownyd  were 
Chasand  the  pupyll  of  Israelle, 
As  yhe  have  herd  me  before  telle, 
Quha  that  wyll  cast  date  to  date, 
As  autoris  in  thaire  story  is  wrate,  830 

And  yhere  wyll  rekyn  eftyr  yhere, 
The  sowme  sail  be  thre  hundyr  clere 
And  twa  and  fyfty  yhere  beforn 
Or  Jhesu  wes  off  Mary  born. 
I  wyll  noucht  hald  thir  oppynnyownys  ale 
Contrary,  for  thai  mycht  weylle  fale ; 
Bot  it  is  dowtews  be  the  date, 
That  Cronyklaris  befor  me  wrate, 
And  othir  incydens  sere 

Accordand  part  to  this  matere.  840 

Bot  quhethir  it  be,  or  othir  wayis, 
Than  all  thir  autoris  before  me  sayis, 
For  certane  yhe  sail  wndyrstand, 
That  owt  off  Spaynyhe  in  tyll  Yrland 
The  Scottis  come,  that  to  this  day 
Havys  it  and  Scotland  haldyn  ay. 
In  [the]  Thryde  Eylde,  wytht-owtyn  les 
In  Spaynyhe  the  Scottis  cummyu  wes. 
Wythtin  the  Ferd  Eylde,  Yrland 


THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  II. 

Was  to  the  Scottis  obeyschande.  850 

F.  27.         Syn  sum  off  thame  can  occupy 
Parte  off  the  north  off  Brettany. 
Than  wes  in  it  thre  Natyownys, 
Scottis,  Peychtis,  and  Brettownys. 

Part  off  the  Scottis  yhit  left  in  Spayn, 
Quhen  thai  war  cumyn  in  tyll  Brettane, 
And  Scottis  thai  spekys  halyly, 
And  yhit  are  callyde  Navarry. 


CHAP.  X. 


<3)r  3E  fcrrthtr*  nxrtoe 

©f  the  (Smealagi  Jtoill  3£  rtbe. 


I 


the  Fyrst  Buk,  gyffe  that  yhe 
Wele  nere  the  last  end  rede  and  se,  860 

Thare  may  yhe  fynd  the  Genealogeys, 
That  in  tyll  al  parte  syguyfis, 
As  oure  Kyng  suld  cumyn  be 
Discendand  ewyn  fra  Noe. 
And  quhy  that  thai  disseveryde  are, 
Yhe  wyt  or  yhe  ga  forthirmare. 

In  the  Thryd  Eylde,  storys  sere 
Sayis,  the  Scottis  cummyn  were 
Wytht  Gedeyl-Glays  in  Spaynyhe  land, 
And  in  the  Ferde  Eylde  in  Yrland,  870 

And  in  the  Fyft  Eylde  lang  beforne, 
In  Scotland,  or  that  God  wes  born. 
Thir  Genealogyis  I  maide  for-thi 
Devysyde,  as  yhe  se,  dystynctly. 
And  [als]  suppos  I  fand  be  name 


CH.  x.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  101 

Thame  wryttyn  all,  yhit  off  the  fame 
Off  mony,  and  the  dowchtynes, 
That  lang  tyme  swa  fordelyd  wes, 
Mater  nane  I  worthy  fand, 

That  tyll  yhoure  heryng  were  plesand  880 

In  tyll  this  Tretys  for  to  wryte : 
Swa  suld  I  dulle  hale  yhoure  delyte, 
And  yhe  sulde  call  it  bot  arane, 
Or  that  I  had  thame  half  ourtane, 
Gyff  I  sulde  tell  thaim  halyly, 
As  thai  are  in  the  Genealogy 
Wytht-oute  othir  distynctyowne. 
For-thi  was  myn  intentyoune 
Amange  the  Eyldys  thame  to  drawe, 
Dyviside  swa,  that  yhe  mycht  knawe  890 

Quha  that  war  orygynale, 
The  begynnyng  pryncipalle 
Off  ilke  cuntre,  quhar  that  thai 
Occupyde  thare-eftyre  ay : 
[And  sa]  I  suld  excusyde  be, 
Gyff  I  mak  noucht  thare  entre, 
Quhen  thare  entre  fyrst  began       * 
In  to  thai  landis  that  thai  wan, 
Tyll  othir  statis  accordand 

In  Eome  or  Israelle  than  regnand  900 

F.  27.  b.          Befor  the  Incarnatyoune, 

For  I  fynde  na  discriptyoune. 
Than  I  fynd  sic  discrepance, 
That  I  am  noucht  off  sufficiance 
For  to  gare  thame  all  acorde ; 
Bot  sympylly  for  to  recorde 
Wytht-in  the  Eyldis,  that  than  felle ; 
And  nane  othir  termys  telle. 


102  THE  CRONYKIL  [B.  II. 

And,  quhare  I  left,  now  to  begyn, 
I  have  in  purpos,  or  I  blyne,  910 

As  in  the  Fyrst  Buke,  off  Woden, 
That  fadyr  wes  off  mony  men ; 
Hys  swn  wes  callyde  Bedagyus, 
That  fadyr  wes  tyll  Brondyus ; 
This  Brondyus  eftyre  that 
"Was  Fredgarys  fadyr,  and  hym  gat ; 
He  had  ane  swne  was  callyde  Frewyne, 
That  Wyggews  gat  eftyre  syn : 
Hys  swn  Gemms  gat  Elfeus, 
That  fadyr  wes  off  Elesyus ;  920 

Elesyus  gat  Kerdycy, 
That  awcht  West  Saxone  halyly ; 
The  fyrst  Kyng  tharoff  was  he, 
That  it  fyrst  awcht  in  reawte : 
He  gat  Kynrycyus  eftyre  syn, 
That  fadyr  wes  off  Cealfyne ; 
Hys  swn  Cwtwyne  gat  Kude ; 
Cedwaldys  fadyr  syne  wes  he, 
And  hys  sown  Conrad  eftyre  that 
Inys  brodyre  Inglis  gat.  930 

Now  off  thir  or  I  tell  ma, 
Tyll  Geddyll-Glays  wyll  I  ga. 
This  Geddyll-Glays  eftyre  that 
To  sown  Eber-Stiwut  gat ; 
Eber  syne,  as  I  herd  telle, 
Fadyr  was  off  Novaelle ; 
This  Novael  gat  Node ; 
And  eftyre  Aldoyt  gat  he ; 
Off  hym  come  eftyr  Erkada, 

That  gat  Boat,  and  he  Brata.  940 

Hys  swne  Brogyne  gat  Broge 


CH.  x.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  103 

That  gat  thare-eftyre  Veande  ; 

Syne  hys  swne  Myle  gat 

Mylet  off  Spayn  swne  eftyre  that ; 

This  Mylet  eftyre  had,  but  drede, 

Tyll  son  Ermeon-Malanseyde ; 

Off  hys  swn  Jaer-Olphaca 

Come  Etoyre ;  and  eftyre  tha 

This  Etoyr  gat  Phaleke, 

That  fadyr  wes  tyl  Tygerneke ;  950 

And  hys  swn  eftyr  Enbaca 

Had  a  swn  calde  Synreca ; 

Fyakak-Labryn  eftyr  that 

Eugws-Olmwrge  to  swn  gat ; 

His  sown  Temaelle  gat  Den ; 

And  Syrne-Elkade  gat  Olten ; 

Hys  swn  wes  Moyadade-Fael, 

That  gat  Glays,  as  I  herd  tel ; 

Off  hys  sone  Edoym  eftyr  that 

Come  Coyem-Dwff,  that  to  sone  gat  960 

Symon-Breke,  that  off  Spayne*  land 

That  Stane  browcht  fyrst  in  tyll  Yrland, 

That  syne  wes  callyd  mony  yhere 

The  Kyngys  Stane  in  Scotland  here, 

As  yhe  sail  here  eftyr  swne, 

Quhen  this  proces  tyll  it  is  dwne. 


104  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  II. 


CHAP.  XL 


0al  ghe  here  oft 
xrff  MJ 


A 


THOWSAND  and  fyve  hundyr  yhere, 
And  twa  and  fourty  full,  but  were, 
Before  the  Natywyte 

That  wes  the  caus  off  alle  oure  gle,  970 

In  tyll  Egypt  Schyr  Danaws, 
That  brodyr  wes  tyll  Egistus, 
Off  dowchtrys  nowmbryde  had  fyfty. 
Egyst  had  sownnys  sa  mony. 
Thai  swnnys  slayne  war  everilkane 
Wytht  thai  dowchtrys  to  sauffe  ane, 
That  gat  away  all  prewaly. 
Egystus  tharfore  fellownly 
Gert  hym  off  Egypt  banyst  be  ; 
In  Argos  than  aryvyd  he,  980 

Quhare  Tenelaus  than  wes  kyng, 
That  made  hym  curtays  welcummyng, 
And  ressawyde  [hym]  in  that  nede 
And  dyde  hym  profyt  and  fordede. 
Bot  he  dyde  vylny  thare  agayne, 
This  Tenelaus  he  walde  have  slayne 
And  be  [the]  lest  hym  banyst  he 
The  men  all  hale  off  that  cuntr4, 
He  enbawndownyd  all  hym  tylle, 
And  maid  thame  bowswm  tyll  his  wylle ;  990 

And  swa  he  regnyde  in  hys  stede, 
That  banyst  was  for  dowt  off  dede. 


CH.  XL]  OF  SCOTLAND.  105 

Than  Busyrys  in  Egypte  als 
Fellown  ostlare  wes,  and  fals, 
And  hys  devotyoune  wes  welle  were, 
And  hys  relygyowne  cruelere 
Than  ony  wychcraft  mycht  be, 
Or  tyrandry  in  ony  gre. 
Quhen  tyll  hys  gestis  he  maid  gud  chere, 
And  welcummyd  thame  on  fayre  manere,          1000 
And  syne  to  thame  wald  ta  gud  kepe, 
Quhyll  thai  ware  sadly  fallyn  on  slepe ; 
Than  stillely  walde  he  to  thame  ga, 
And  scheyre  thare  thropyll  boll  in  twa, 
F.  28.  b.          And  syne  thare  bind  walde  sacryfy 
Tyll  his  goddys  devotly, 
Thynkand  thai  sulde  be  parcynere 
Off  mede  and  payne  that  he  sulde  bere ; 
For  he  sayd,  that  sacryfyce 
Plesyde  hys  goddys  mony  wys.  1010 

Tereus  in  that  tyme  alsua 
Lyin  had  by  [his]  systyris  twa, 
Prognas  callyd,  and  Phylomene, 
Off  that  incest  fell  murthyr  kene, 
And  ane  wgsum  mangery 
Of  wlatsuin  corsys  and  wgly ; 
For  quhen  the  tane  full  wytting  had 
Hyr  systyr  had  lessyde  hyr  maydynhade, 
Hyr  systyr  twyng  fyrst  schare  scho  owt ; 
Hyr  awyne  sone  syne  scho  slw,  but  dowt,         1020 
And  sethyde  hym  in  pecis  smalle, 
And  gert  hys  fadyr  eyt  hym  alle. 

Perseus  in  this  tyme  alsua 
Come  owt  off  Grece  in  Asya, 
Quhare  all  that  tyme  the  folk  were 


106  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  IL 

Eude  off  condityoune  and  off  fere, 

Bot  he  thame  wan,  throwcht  hys  trawaylle, 

And  fors  off  fycht  in  harde  batayle, 

And  gert  thame  tyll  hym  buxum  be  ; 

Syn  Pers  he  gert  call  that  centre*.  1030 

On  this  wys,  as  I  maid  rehers, 

The  kynryk  fyrst  begouth  off  Pers. 

Thai  fenyheid  fabyllis  I  wyll  forbere 
That  Ovyde  tellys  how  Jupitere 
Gert  the  Egyle,  as  we  rede, 
Eawys  the  barne  Ganemede, 
And  bere  hym  wp  in  to  the  ayre 
Quhare  Jupitere  maid  his  repayre, 
Thare,  for  hys  soverane  bewte, 
Lemman  to  that  god  wes  he.  1040 

And  spensare  alsua  quhen  Ebes 
Eemovyd  to  that  offys  wes. 
How  Tantalus  that  wes  as  fere 
Tyll  goddys  and  alye  nere, 
This  Ganymede  on  this  wys  reft, 
Tuk  and  held  hym  lang  thare-eft, 
Tyll  lust  off  this  Jupitere, 
Or  tyll  hys  awn  lust  famelyere. 
How  Pelops,  the  sone  off  Tantalus, 
Eas  agayne  Schyr  Dardanus,  1050 

That  lord  off  Troy  was  in  thai  dayis. 
How  Perseus  als,  as  fabyll  sayis, 
Wytht  Tebanys  and  Spertanyis 
Maid  mony  syndry  jupertyis  : 
And  how  Edippus,  as  sayis  Stace, 
F.  29.  That  slaare  off  hys  fadyre  wace, 

Gat  on  hys  modyr  sonnys  twa, 
And  was  hys  barnys  brodyr  swa : 


CH.  XIL]  OF  SCOTLAND.  107 

And  howe  the  barne  Ethyocles 

Faucht  wytht  hys  brodyr  Polynces,  1060 

In  that  intent  that  bayth  ware  sene 

Feehtaris  and  manslaaris  kene  : 

And  othir  fenyheid  fabyllis  sere, 

I  wyll  forbere  to  wryt  in  here  ; 

For  gyff  I  dyde  as  othir  wrate 

In  this  plas  I  sulde  set  thaire  date. 


CHAR  XII. 


<S)fi  Jfxr0tie  ncrto  0all  yht  hm, 
in  thi0  next  Mtftoanb  Chapite. 


I 


N  to  this  tyme  that  I  off  telle 
Was  Josue  duk  in  Israel, 
The  wattyre  off  Jordane  in  his  dayis 
Was  dry,  as  the  story  sayis,  1070 

Quhill  that  the  folk  oure  passyd  fre 
Off  Jeryco  the  gret  cyte 
And  all  thai  that  he  fande  tharein, 
Man  and  best,  bath  mare  and  myn, 
He  wndyde  and  slw  all  down 
And  broucht  it  tyll  confusioune, 
Bot  golde,  sylvyr,  and  wessale 
Clenly  maide  off  gud  metalle, 
He  gert  halow  wytht  honoure 
Tyll  Goddys  oys,  and  hys  tresoure.  1080 

That  tyme  als,  in  that  cyte, 
He  gert  that  woman  sawffyt  be 
That  sauffyt  hys  spyis  wysly 
Quhen  thai  come  that  towne  to  spy. 


108  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  II. 

Thare  Achor  als  the  mantyll  stall, 

The  sylver  and  the  rewell  wyth  alle, 

And  ran  in  sentens  off  courssyng 

For  that  he  stal  and  brak  byddyng ; 

Tharefore  Josue,  but  remede, 

Hym  gert  be  stanyde  thare  to  dede.  1090 

Syn  he  passyde  for  tyll  assay 
Gyff  he  mycht  wyn  the  town  off  Hay ; 
He  wan  wytht  juperty  that  towne 
And  off  it  slwe  twelf  thousand  downe. 
Fra  thine,  wytht  hys  ost  onone, 
He  past  to  wyn  Gabaone, 
Bot,  throucht  dyssayte,  the  Gabaonytys 
Wes  frendyt  wytht  the  Israelytis ; 
For  quhen  thai  hard  that  Josue 
Wes  to  cum  wytht  hys  ryawte,  1100 

Thai  dowtyt  sare  that  he  walde  wyn 
Thare  landys,  and  thare  cyte*  bryne, 
F.  29.  b          As  he  to  Jericho  had  done, 

And  tyll  Hay  thare  efftyr  sone, 

Messengerys  to  Josue 

Thai  gart  off  consalle  ordanyt  be, 

Wytht  aulde  hose  and  rywine  schone, 

And  mowlyde  brede  in  kartis  done ; 

Be  thai  taknys  to  be  kend 

That  thai  ware  off  fer  landis  sende.  1110 

On  this  wys  the  Gabaonytis 

Come  chargyt  to  the  Israelitis, 

And  delyveryde  in  thare  presence 

Tyll  Josue  playnly,  be  credence ; 

And  sayd,  thai  come  off  landys  fere, 

Quhar  that  thai  herd  off  his  powere, 

And  off  thai  landys  that  thai  had 


.OH.  xti.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  109 

Tyll  Jowys  wes  na  promissyowne  maide ; 
Bot  off  thaire  wyll  to  Josue 

In  serwys  thai  walde  oblysyde  be,  1120 

And  this,  thai  said,  wes  in  thare  intent 
That  thame  in  message  thiddyre  sent. 
Tyll  thir  wordys  Josue 
Trowyd,  and  thame  ressawyde  he, 
And  off  his  ost  the  lardis  thare 
Be  athe  to  thame  all  bundyn  ware. 
Wytht-in  thre  dayis  eftyre  that, 
Quhen  Josue  full  wyttyng  gat 
That  he  dissawyd  wes,  but  were, 
He  arguyt  thame  on  fel  manere ;  1 130 

.  And  thai  excusyd  thame  symply 
And  said,  thai  dyd  it  qwhently  ; 
For  it  wes  gert  thame  wndyrstand 
That  thai  walde  occupy  thare  land, 
And  hald  it  in  possessioune, 
And  bryng  thame  tyll  confusioune ; 
Sen  thai  ware  sa  thame  bundyn  tylle 
Thai  mycht  do  wyth  thame  all  thare  wylle. 
The  multitwde  than  wes  rycht  lath 
For  to  sauff  thame,  for  thaire  ath  1 140 

Thai  sayde,  wes  be  surreptyonne, 
Gyle,  and  circumventyoune, 
Sworne  befor  that,  and  for-thi 
Tha  ware  excusyd  lauchfully 
All  thai  cuchowris  for  to  ta 
And,  but  mercy,  pyne  and  sla. 
Bot  the  lordys  walde  noucht  wndo 
The  band  that  thai  war  oblysyd  to, 
Bot  said,  thame  thoucht  it  wondyre  lath 
For  to  be  argwyt  off  thare  ath ;  1150 


110  THE  CRONYKIL  [B.  II. 

For  bath  to  frend  and  fa  sulde  be 
Fayth  evynlik  kepyd  in  leawte. 
On  this  thai  yheid  all  tyll  consale 
F.  30.         And  sone  thai  delyveryt  hale 

To  ta  thare  gudys,  and  thare  towne 

Hale  in  thare  possessioune, 

And  mak  thai  men  thare  travalourys, 

Masownys,  wrychtys,  and  pynowrys, 

And  sa  thai  mycht  revengyde  be, 

Excusand  baytht  fayth  and  leawte.  1 1 60 

Thus  maid  thai  schort  delyverance 

And  gert  fullfill  all  ordynance. 

Off  this  manere  Kyngys  fyve, 
That  marchyd  nere  thame  herde  belyve, 
Wytht  thare  ost  thai  come  onone 
For  tyll  assege  Gabaone, 
And  thai  wytht-in,  on  set  consalle, 
Askyt  at  Josue  suppoualle. 
Wytht  hys  ost  thane  he  come  on 
And  chasyd  thai  folk  throucht  Bethoron,          1 170 
For  off  hym  thai  had  sic  drede 
That  thame  behuvyde  [to]  fle  onnede ; 
Haylstanys  gryt  in  to  that  flycht 
Sa  hewy  thyk  and  hard  can  lycht, 
That  [ma]  peryst  in  that  schoure 
Than  swerdys  stikkyt  in  that  stowre, 
And  quhyll  thai  ware  in  to  the  chas 
The  swn  rycht  fast  avaland  was, 
And  the  mwne  agayne  the  nycht, 
As  in  mydwaxand  tuk  the  hycht.  1180 

Than  Josue  wytht  devotyoune 
Devotly  maid  his  orysoune 
To  God,  and  swa  than  gert  he  stand 


CH.  xin.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  Ill 

Swn  and  mwne  batht  wnmovand, 

Fra  thine  the  space  hale  off  a  day, 

That  never  yhit,  as  I  harde  say, 

Sa  lang  a  day  we,s  sene  beforne 

Wytht  al  thai  that  that  tyme  wes  borne : 

In  that  tyme  hys  fays  qwyte 

Fullyly  Josue  discomfyte.  1190 

All  this  tyme  in  to  that  chas, 

Quhyll  Josue  fast  prekande  was, 

He  persawyde  that  Kyngys  fyve 

Crape  in  a  cove  to  sawffe  thare  lyve  ; 

Than  off  that  cove  the  mouth  gert  he 

Wytht  stannys  gryt  sone  dyttyde  be, 

Quhyll  that  all  the  chas  was  done, 

And  syne  he  gert,  wytht-owtyn  hone, 

Owt  off  that  cove  thai  Kyngys  bryng 

And  thame  wpone  a  gallows  hyng.  1200 

Off  Josue  and  hys  wyctorys, 
And  othir  syndry  juperdys 
That  was  in  his  dayis  done, 
In  to  the  Bybyll  yhe  may  sone 
F.  30.  b.          Fynd  thaime  wryttyn  in  his  Buk, 
Gyff  yhe  wyll  all  the  story  luk. 


CHAP.   XIII. 


h0to  that  iht  GDceten0 
Jfatorht  togth  the  Qitintzns, 


F 


OUETENE  hundyr  yher  beforne 
And  twelf  full  or  God  wes  borne 
A  fell  were  ras,  as  Orose  sayis, 


112  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  II. 

And  a  dispetews  in  thai  dayis  1210 

Betwene  thaine  duelland  in  Crete, 

That  is  an  yle  in  to  the  se, 

And  the  folk  off  Athenys, 

That  in  to  Grece  a  gryt  towne  is ; 

Thare  slauchtyr  hapnyd  rycht  cruelle 

And  bathe  the  partys  fers  and  felle ; 

Bot  the  Cretens  faucht  sa  fast 

Quhylle  the  Grekys  at  the  last 

Mast  part  in  that  batayle  qwyt 

Was  tane,  or  slayne,  or  discumfyt.  1220 

The  gentyl-mennys  sonnys  thare 

That  ayrys  to  thare  faderys  ware 

Thai  tuk  in  to  that  were,  but  dowt, 

And  all  thare  eyne  fyrst  thai  put  owt. 

A  Mynotawre  (quhethir  that  he 

A  felowne  man  or  best  sulde  be, 

I  wyll  noucht  tel  yow  certanly), 

All  thai  barnys  halyly 

Thai  gert  be  delyveryd  tyll, 

For  to  be  s  welly  id  at  hys  wyll,  1230 

And  to  be  etyn.     In  that  place  thare 

The  Grekys  thus  reboytyt  ware. 

The  Laphytys  and  the  Tessalyis 
In  Grece  bayth  thai  landys  lyis, 
In  that  tyme  oysyd  gret  trawaille 
Amang  thame  self  in  hard  bataylle. 
In  tyll  a  buk  that  Palafat 
Off  hys  wncertane  ferlyis  wrate  : 
He  sayde  the  Laphytys  trowyd  hale, 
And  taulde  als  for  a  certane  tayle,  1240 

That  the  Tessalyis  sulde  be 
Yppocentawrys  in  akyn  gre ; 


CH.  xiv.  OF  SCOTLAND.  113 

That  is  to  say  propyrly 

Bath  hors  and  man  in  a  body. 

Suppos  that  thai  sik  wenyng  had, 

Swylk  a  best  wes  nevyr  made ; 

Bot  for  ay  thai  saw  so  thyk 

Thare  horsmen  in  to  batayle  pryk 

Othir  wenyng  had  thai  nane, 

Bot  hors  and  man  batht  wes  ane.  1250 


CHAP.    XIV. 

Dhe  sail  be  this  (thapitere  0e 
<HJtohat  the  Jftjm0totam:e  0chnlb  be, 

F.  si.          wVIDE  tellys  mystyly 

In  tyll  his  Methamorphosi, 

That  is  the  Buke  off  Changynge, 

In  tyll  our  propyr  wndoyng, 

For  in  it  ar  changys  sere, 

That  ferlyffull  ar  for  to  here. 

This  Owyde  sayis  that  Dedalus 

Wes  in  his  dedys  merwalus. 

Off  Athenys  he  wes  kyng 

And  mekyll  had  in  governyng  1260 

First  tyl  lordschipe  quhen  he  drewe 

Hys  newo  in  tyll  ire  he  slewe, 

And  exylid  for  that  cans  wes  he 

Owte  off  Athenys  in  to  Crete", 

That  is  in  to  the  Se  ane  yle, 

Thare  Mynois  regnyd  in  that  quhyle, 

He  Kyng  that  tyme  wes  off  Crete, 

And  had  a  wyff  callyd  Phasyfe", 
VOL.  i.  H 


114  THE  CKOOTKIL  [B. II. 

Batht  off  fassowne  and  off  face 

Fourmyde  fayre  at  full  scho  wace.  1270 

As  this  Queyne  apon  a  day 

Hyr  laykand  in  a  medow  lay, 

A  tawre,  that  is  a  bul,  but  wene, 

Scho  saw  ner  by  hir  on  the  grene 

Gnyppand  gyrs  rycht  gredyly ; 

Quhen  scho  beheld  hyni  increly, 

Hyr  fleschly  lust  maid  [hir]  so  ken 

That  wndyr  hym  scho  walde  have  bene ; 

Scho  pressyd  to  [pleysse]  hym  wytht  all  slycht 

Hyr  brandysand  in  tyll  his  sycht  1280 

And  maid  hyr  oft  wytht  hym  to  bowrde ; 

Bot  that  best  off  kynd  sa  lowrde 

Wyst  rycht  noucht  quhat  scho  wald  meyne 

Bot  wend  hyr  bourd  hade  manans  bene ; 

Swa  ay  as  scho  wald  drawe  hym  nere, 

Fra  plas  to  place  the  bul  walde  stere. 

Scho  lufyt  this  best  so  straytly 

That  scho  walde  fayne  have  had  copy 

Off  hym,  gyff  ony  wys  scho  moucht 

Bot  kynd  to  that  accordyt  noucht.  1290 

Quhyll  that  scho  wes  travalyde  thus, 
Scho  come  off  case  to  Dedalus, 
And  schawyde  tylle  hym  hyr  malady, 
And  syne  requeryd  hym  specyally 
That  he  wald  se  for  sum  remede, 
Or  than,  but  dowt,  scho  were  bot  dede. 
Off  this  request  scho  wes  sa  thra 
That  scho  walde  na  wys  pas  hym  fra, 
Quhyll  that  he  gave  hys  assent, 
In  tyll  assyth  off  hyr  talent.  1300 

F.  31.  b.          Than  he  hyr  fourmyde  in  a  kowe 


CH.  xiv.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  115 

Bot  that  is  noucht  yhit  all  to  trowe, 

And  the  bul  quhylum  he  sawe  that, 

This  Mynotawre  apon  hyr  gat, 

And  quhen  hyr  tyme  wes  weryd  owte 

Off  this  bysyn  best,  but  dowt, 

Scho  wes  delywyre :  and  quhen  this 

The  kyng  off  Crete,  Mynois, 

Hade  sene,  in  hart  he  wes  full  wa 

That  he  was  asschamyd  swa ;  1310 

In  tyll  a  stede  he  maid  in  hy 

A  manere  place  swa  suttely, 

And  stratly  closyd  all  abowte, 

That  quha  wytht-in  walde  pres  hym  owte, 

Than  hym  behuwyd  to  mak  entre ; 

And  quha  wytht-out  wytht-in  walde  be, 

To  be  thare-owte  ay  hym  behuwyde 

Quhatkyn  craft  sua  evyre  he  pruwyde. 

The  Laberynt  thai  callyd  that  place, 

The  Mynotawre  set  in  it  was,  1320 

And  syne  thai  oysyd  commonaly 

To  call  it  Domus  Dedaly. 

Dedalus  quhen  he  saw  this, 

He  was  so  rad  for  Mynois, 

That  off  the  land  he  walde  have  bene, 

Gyff  he  couth  ony  way  have  sene ; 

Bot  hym  behuwyd  oure  a  Se, 

And  schyppyn  nane  to  that  hade  he. 

Than  this  ilk  Dedalus, 

And  Ids  son  Ycarius,  1330 

Mad  thame  hally  to  the  flycht ; 
Swa  Dedalus  than,  wytht  hys  slycht, 
For  hym  and  his  sone,  maide  twa 
Feytheramys  fayre  thare  flycht  to  ta. 


116  THE  CRONYKIL  [B.II. 

In  thai  quhen  clede  wes  Dedalus 

And  his  sone  Ycarius, 

He  bade  his  sone  in  to  the  flycht 

Hald  ewyn  in  tyll  a  rawndown  rycht  : 

Noucht  tyll  hey,  for  dowt  the  ayre 

Sulde  melt  away  his  fethrys  fayre ;  1340 

Na  to  law,  for  dowt  the  flud 

Sulde  wesche  away  his  fethrys  gude. 

Bot  this  Ycarius  in  his  flycht 

Made  a  cowrs  so  hey  on  hycht, 

That  hym  behowyde  on  nede  cum  doun, 

Swa  hapnyd  hym  in  the  Se  to  drown. 

Be  that  ensawmpyll  be  thir  ilk  wers 

Ware  maid  that  I  wyll  yowe  rehers, 

(Ycariifati 

Memores  estate  parati, 

Jussa  paterna  pati, 

Medium  tenuere  beati.) 
Off  the  werd  of  Ycary, 

Be  ye  ay  thouchtfull  and  redy,  1350 

To  thole  yhoure  fadyr  byddyng  ay, 
Haly  men  mesoure  held  all  way. 

The  bul  that  this  Dame  Phasife 
Thus  lufyd,  wes  in  propyrte 
Hyr  awne  stewart  that  by  hyr  lay, 
And  on  hyr  gat,  in  chambure  play, 
A  barne  that  wes  prywaly 
Haldyn  and  norysyde  tendyrly. 
Gret  slycht,  as  yhe  herd,  scho  leryde 
Hyr  lordys  ey  wytht  that  scho  bleryde.  1360 


CH.  xv.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  117 


CHAP.  XV. 


xrff 
In  00toth  anb  north  mztb.e  ijret 

JL  WELFF  hundyr  and  thretty  yhere  beforn 

And  twa  yhere  or  that  God  wes  born, 

Wersozes  that  off  Egypt  kyng 

Bath  sowth  and  north  maid  gret  steryng, 

And  set  his  diligence  ay 

Batht  thai  arthys  as  thai  lay, 

Be  land  partyd,  or  be  se, 

To  ger  thame  bowe  tyll  his  pouste, 

Or  ellys  he  suld  thame  fast  assayle 

Wytht  felown  were  and  hard  bataylle.  1370 

Thare-off  message  he  send  in  hy 

Tyll  thame  than  duelland  in  Sythy, 

And  bade  that  thai  sulde  tyll  hym  drawe, 

And  oys  his  custome  and  his  lawe, 

And  becum  iu-deyde  his  men. 

To  this  message  thai  ansuerd  then, 

And  said  thame  thoucht  it  fawklys  thyng 

Tyll  hym  that  wes  a  mychty  kyng 

Agayne  sa  sympyll  folk  to  rys, 

Or  fande  in  were  thame  to  supprys  ;  1380 

Sene  werde  off  batayle  is  dowtows 

And  tyll  all  partys  peralows. 

Off  this  for  tyll  mak  schort  oure  tayle, 

Thai  mellayde  sone  in  tyll  batayle, 

Quhare  the  fycht  wes  fers  and  felle, 

On  bath  the  partys  rycht  cruelle. 


118  THE  CRONYKIL  [B.  II. 

Bot  Wersozes  at  the  last 
Dyscumfyt  wes  and  fled  rycht  fast. 
The  Sytykys  wencust  that  bataylle, 
And  tuk  wp  all  thare  apparaylle,  1390 

That  wes  left  in  to  that  place 
Quhare  that  batayll  strykyne  was, 
And  chasyde  the  Egyptys  hastyly 
On  hors  and  fute  dyspytuysly. 
And  thai,  for  radnes  fleand  fast, 
F.  32.  b,         Wan  fra  thare  dawngere  at  the  last. 

The  Sytykys  than  wytht  thare  poware 
Had  wastyd  all  that  land  off  were. 
Ne  ware  [the]  Egyptys  dykys  depe 
About  thame  drewe  thare  land  to  kepe.  1400 

The  Sytykys  than  wytht  playne  batayle 
Maid  throwcht  Asy  thare  trawayle, 
And  wan  mekyll  off  it  off  were, 
That  thai  maid  to  thame  tributere. 
Fyftene  yhere  thare  thai  abade, 
Bot  sum  tyme  yit  war  thai  hade, 
Quhyll  thaire  wyffys  made  thame  kende 
Be  the  message  that  thai  sende, 
Bot  gyff  thai  sped  thame  hame  but  let, 
That  othire  suld  thare  barnys  get,  14 1C 

[And  ly  with  thame  in  ful  delite, 
That  thai  mycht  stanch  thair  appetit]. 


CH.  xvi.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  119 


CHAR  XVI. 

tellis  the  next  Chapiter* 
<|tohat  the  Qmzzonts  toere. 

the  menetyme  that  this  was, 
Twa  yhung  men  in  tyll  Sythy  ras, 
The  tayne  callid  wes  Plynyus, 
The  tothire  Scolopetyus, 
That  be  the  lawys  off  the  land 
Mycht  noucht  for  thare  dedys  stand, 
Than  the  lordys  wald  thame  ta, 
And,  be  thare  statutys,  wald  thame  sla,  1420 

Swa  that  off  nede  thame  behuwyd 
To  be  banyst  and  removid 
Fra  thare  gud,  thare  kyn,  thare  kyth ; 
Off  yhung  falowys  thai  gat  thame  wyth 
Ane  lychthewyddyd  company, 
And  set  thame  hale  wpone  felony, 
And  maid  in  strayttys  thare  reset, 
Wytht  all  the  stuff  that  thai  mycht  get, 
And  sum  landys  nere  thame  by 
Thai  gert  [obey]  to  thare  mastry,  1430 

And  mony  landys  thai  destroyit, 
Thare-off  the  folk  were  sare  anoyid ; 
Swa  thai  conspyryd  pryvaly 
Wytht  marcherys  that  lay  nere  thame  by, 
The  quhilkis  maid  thame  swylk  a  trayne, 
That  mony  off  thame  sone  had  thai  slayne. 
[And]  all  the  lawe  that  dowt  swa  drede, 
That  thai  tyll  strayttare  heychtys  flede ; 


120-  THE  CKONYKIL  [B.  II. 

Swa  was  skallyd  all  that  rowt 
That  off  the  lawe  wes  had  na  dowt.  1440 

Thare  wyffys  that  in  that  cas  wes  dede 
As  wedowis  wyll  off  a  gud  rede, 
Movyd  was  in  tyll  gret  ire, 
In  felny  brynnand  as  a  fyre, 
To  thaire  nummary s  thair  main  thai  made 
F.  33.         Menande  sayre  thaire  wedowhade ; 
Than  thai  gadyryde  thame  all  halle. 
And  made  amang  thame  be  consalle 
On  set  purpos  for  to  qwyt, 

Wytht  gret  revengeans,  that  dyspyte  1450 

Done  tyll  thare  husbandys  that  ware  slayn, 
Set  thai  sulde  de  in  to  the  payn. 
On  this  thai  set  haille  thare  intent, 
Bot  thai  kest  ane  impediment 
Dowtows  to  fall  in  to  swylk  cas, 
Syne  faynt  off  kynd  all  women  was, 
And  mekyll  scownerand  to  se  blude, 
Quhare-in  as  thai  thair  purpos  stude 
Thare  hart  in  to  the  deyde  suld  faylle 
And  swa  thai  tyne  sulde  thare  trawaylle;         1460 
And  for  thare  full  presumptioune 
Thai  sulde  fall  in  confusiowne. 
To  this  ilkane  said  thare  intent, 
And  delyveryd  wytht  hale  assent, 
Bot  on  that  poynt  [of]  thaire  accord 
I  dar  noucht  tyll  yhow  now  record, 
For  dowt  that  wemen  wald  me  blame 
Gyff  that  it  twechys  thare  defame, 
And  call  it  myne  autoryte, 

Set  it  autentyk  story  be ;  1470 

And  als  the  sawmpyll  is  rycht  felle, 


CH.  xvi.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  121 

The  propyrte*  thareoff  to  telle. 
Bot  Oros,  in  his  Fyrst  Buke, 
Gyff  that  yhe  wyll  the  story  luke, 
The  foure  and  twentyid  chapytere, 
Can  tell  yhowe  thare-off  the  manere 
Quhat  evyre  it  wes,  it  thai  begane 
And  held  wpon  it  stowtly  than, 
And  rasyde  were  and  playne  batayle ; 
And  stoutly  made  thame  tyll  assayle  1480 

The  landys  lyand  thame  about, 
And  maid  thaime  tyll  thame  wndyrlowt, 
And  slewe  thare  innymys  ilkane 
That  thare  husbandys  before  had  slayne : 
All  thus  off  were  thai  wan  the  land : 
And  maid  it  tyll  thame  obeysand, 
Bot  sum  men  thai  gert  sauffyd  be 
In  tyme  to  cule  thare  qualyte ; 
And  in  ane  yle  thai  gert  thame  ga 
Amang  thaim  na  repayre  to  ma,  1490 

Bot  qwhat  tyme  at  thaire  appetyte, 
Thame  movyd  in  lust  and  in  delyte, 
That  yle  ay  thai  walde  pas  tylle 
Thare  fleschly  lust  for  to  fullnlle ; 
And  quhat  barnys  ware  gottyn  thare 
Quhen  thaire  modyrys  delyver  ware 
Off  knaw  barnys  thai  walde  sla  moiiy, 
F.  33.  b.         The  madynys  thai  norysyde  tendyrly, 
Bot  away  thai  walde  ger  bryn 
The  rycht  pape  the  fleyhs  wythtin  1500 

Leffand  noucht  off  it  a  crote 
For  dowt  it  sulde  let  thame  off  schot : 
Thai  war  callyd  Amazones. 
Twa  gret  ladyis  off  thame  wes 


122  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  II. 

That  betwene  thame  tuk  the  cure 
Off  howshalde  and  off  were  al-ure, 
Tyme  be  tyme  per  cumpany, 
Wyth  thare  cowrtys  ay  syndry, 
As  ordanyd  wes  betwene  thame  twa : 
The  tayne  wes  callyd  Mesepia,  1510 

The  tothire  Lampete  was  calde 
Baytht  thai  ware  in  batayllis  balde. 
In  Europe  landys  rycht  mony 
Thai  wan,  and  mekyll  off  Asy ; 
Thai  byggyd  a  cyte*  callyd  Smyrna, 
Epheson  thai  maid  alsua ; 
Welth  at  wyll  thai  wan  off  were, 
All  Asy  dowtyde  thare  powere. 
Syne  Lampite  wyth  hyr  curnpany 
Passyde  hame  agayne  in  tyll  Sythy,  1520 

And  lefte  behynd  hyr  Dame  Maisepe, 
Wytht  hyr  cowrt,  the  land  to  kepe. 
The  Asyanys  ras  hyr  agayne, 
And  has  hyr  in  tyll  bataylle  slayne. 
Hyr  douchtyre  Synope,  eftyr  hyre  dede, 
Tuke  wpe  armys  in  hyr  stede 
That  wyrschype  prowyd  in  mony  dede, 
And  deyd  syn  in  hyr  madynhede. 
Sik  name  ras  off  that  reall  route 
That  landys  sere  off  thame  had  doute,  1530 

And  out  off  Grece  be  consalle  wes 
To  werray  thaim  send  Ercules, 
That  chesyt  wytht  hym  the  wychtest  men 
In  tyll  all  Grece  that  he  couth  ken, 
And  mony  schyppys  gret  gert  he 
Wytht  men  and  armys  stuffyde  be, 
For  perylows  that  were  hym  thoucht 


CH.  xvi.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  123 

And  ille  to  purpos  to  be  broucht, 
With  all  thai  yhit  in  playne  batayle, 
Appertly  durst  he  noucht  assayle;  1540 

Bot,  on  the  nycht,  all  pryvaly 
He  slewe  off  thame  a  gret  party 
As  he  come  on  thaim  wnpurwayde, 
Wnwarnyst,  and  all  wnarayid. 
Twa  systyrys  had  the  guvernaylle 
That  tyme  off  the  land  all  halle, 
F.  34.         Antyope  and  Orythya, 

Thir  ware  the  namys  off  tha  twa, 
....?    And  odyr  systyrys  twa  had  thai, 

Noucht  off  swylk  state  the  soyth  to  say ;  1550 

Menalympe  callyd  wes  ane, 

Scho  wytht  Ercules  wes  tane, 

And  he  delyveryde  hyr  all  fre 

Tyll  hyr  systyr  Antiope, 

And  for  hyr  rawnsome  tuk  na  mare 

Than  the  armurys  that  scho  bare. 

The  tothire  systyr,  Ypolytes, 

Weddyde  wyth  Theseus  wes ; 

Neyst  Ercules  in  all  degre 

The  gretest  off  that  ost  wes  he.  1560 

Thare  Orythya  wes  dede, 
Penthassale  ras  in  hyr  stede, 
Hyr  douchtyr  and  hyr  ayre  off  ale 
That  tyll  hyr  suld  off  profyt  fale. 
This  lady  prowyd  gret  douchtynes ; 
Quhen  the  Grekys  assegeand  wes 
The  town  off  Troy,  wytht  thare  powere, 
Thare  wyth  hyr  ost  scho  come  off  were, 
As  in  the  story  weill  is  kend. 
Bot  schortly  nowe  for  to  mak  end ;  1570 


124  THE  CRONYKIL  [B.II. 

Ane  hundyr  yhere  thare  powere  stud, 
And  landys  sere  thaire  mycht  oure-yhude, 
Westande  hale  wytht  thaire  powere, 
And  byggand  quhar  thare  wyllys  were. 


CHAP.  XVII. 


Jt00jegi0  xrff  ^rcrjie  here 
in  thi0 


A 


THOWSAND  ane  hundyr  and  foure  score, 
And  twa  yher  fully  gane  before 
Crystys  Incarnatyoune, 
Off  Troy  wes  the  destructyowne, 
That  the  Grekys  [fully]  ten  yhere 
Assegeand  war  wytht  thare  powere.  1580 

How  that  began  and  endyt  wes 
Homer  trettis,  and  Dares. 
And  eftyr  Troyis  destructyowne 
And  the  eyte"  castyn  downe, 
Eneas  gert  twelff  schyppys  be 
Wytayllyde  and  layde  to  the  se. 
He  and  hys  fadyre,  Anchyses, 
Askaneus  als,  that  his  sone  wes, 
In  thai  twelf  schyppys  tuk  the  se, 
Wytht  all  thare  gud  and  thaire  menyhe,  1590 

And  saylland,  happynyt  in  the  ile 
That  be  name  callyde  wes  Syzile ; 
Thare  that  tyme  dede  wes  Anchyses, 
F.  34.  b.        And  in  that  ile  enteryde  wes. 

And  quhen  Anchyses  hapnyd  thus, 
Eneas  and  Askaneus, 


CH.  xvn.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  125 

On  set  purpos  fermly, 

For  tyll  have  bene  in  Ytaly, 

Wp  to  [the]  tope  thare  sayllys  drewe, 

And  drawe  on,  as  thame  blastys  blewe  1600 

And  quhyle  on  Eoume  lay  coftys  owt, 

As  thai  war  stad  in  stormys  stout, 

And  quhylle  lay  nere  for  tyll  have  sene 

Quhat  land  that  thai  had  nerest  bene, 

And  at  the  last  thai  saland  swa, 

Arywyt  on  fors  in  Affryca. 

Quhar  than  off  Affric  Dido,  Quene 

Fra  that  scho  had  Eneas  sene, 

Kesawyd  hym  wytht  gret  honoure, 

And  lufyd  hym  stratly  paramoure,  1610 

And  gert  all  hyr  ryawte 

Tyll  hym  and  his  obeysand  be. 

Thare  sojowrnand  a  quhille  he  bade, 

Quhare  alkyn  welth  at  wylle  he  hade. 

Bot  his  yharnyng  halyly 

Stude  tyll  have  bene  in  Ytaly ; 

Tharefore  he  schyppys  layd  to  se", 

And  waytyd  wynd  and  made  entre*, 

And  tuk  wpe  sayle  and  helde  thare  trade, 

In  Tybyr  quhyll  thai  strekyn  hade  ;  1 620 

Quhare,  as  Eneas  slepand  lay 

Apon  a  nycht  in  hys  galay, 

A  woce  he  herd  that  bad  hym  pas 

Tyll  Ewandire  that  that  tyme  was 

Kyng  rygnand  in  sevyn  hyllys  by, 

Quhare  Borne  is  set  now  werraly, 

And  bad  he  sulde  mak  suppowale 

Tyll  this  Ewandire,  that  batayle 

Gawe  to  kyng  Latyn  ythandly 


126  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.II. 

For  the  kynryk  off  Ytaly.  1630 

Eftyr  all  that  hys  sulde  be 

Wpon  that  purpos  passyde  he 
Tyll  this  Ewandire  wytht  his  mycht, 
And  faucht  wytht  Latyn  in  tyll  fycht, 
And  Turnus  in  that  fycht  has  slayne 
That  kyng  wes  that  tyme  off  Tuskayne, 
And  mawch  wes  to  this  kyng  Latyn, 
And  weddyd  hys  douchtyr  Dame  Lavyne; 
And  for  that  caus  to  this  bataylle 
This  Turnus  come  in  suppoway lie  1640 

Off  Latyn  kyng,  and  slew  Pallas, 
That  off  Ewandire  sone  than  was ; 
And  throuch  Eneas  syne  was  he 
Slayne  off  fors  in  that  meUe*. 
F.  35.  Eneas  weddyd  syne  Lavyne, 

The  douchtyr  off  this  kyng  Latyne ; 

And  quhen  that  Latyne  kyng  wes  dede, 

He  succedede  in  hys  stede, 

As  kyng  rygnand  yherys  thre ; 

And  eftyr  hym,  quhen  dede  wes  he,  1650 

Hys  sone  Askaneus  tuk  all  hale 

Off  Ytaly  the  governayle, 

And  byggyd  thare  a  gret  cyte, 

And  ATbane  gert  it  callyd  be ; 

And  auchtene  wyntyr  rygnand  was 

Eftyr  his  fadyre  Eneas ; 

For  owt  off  Troy  wytht  hym  come  he, 

Gottyn  and  borne  in  that  centre. 

Hys  sone  callid  wes  Sylvius, 

The  quhilk  wes  fadyr  to  Bruttus,  1660 

That  this  land  fra  geawndys  wan, 

And  eftyr  hym  wes  callyd  Brytan. 


CH.  xvii.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  127 

Off  Troy  quhen  that  Eneas 
Buskyd  hym  wytht  schype  to  pas, 
Anthenor  and  his  nienyhe 
Wyth  thare  nawyn  tuk  the  s^, 
And  arywyde  by  Pannony 
That  marchys  nere  tyll  Wngary, 
Off  Wenes  he  maid  the  gret  towne 
That  yhit  is  realle  off  renowne,  1670 

And  a  port  off  the  mekyll  se, 
Quhare  that  pylgrymys  mais  entre 
That  to  Jerusalem  walde  fayre 
The  sepulkyr  to  wysyde  thare. 
Off  this  Anthenor  come  syne, 
Descendand  ewyn  down  be  lyne, 
Francus  off  sa  reale  fame 
That  Frawns  off  hym  yhit  hawys  the  name. 
Thus  thai  come  fyrst,  halyly, 
All  off  the  gret  towne  off  Troy,  1 680 

That  Ytaly  all  occupyid, 
And  Frawns  and  Brytane  inhabyid, 
And  othir  mony  landys  sere 
That  I  leve  nowe  to  rekyn  here. 


[@xplidt  liter 


THE    THRYDE    BUKE 


OF  THE 


OKYGYNALE     CEONYKIL 

OF    SCOTLAND. 


VOL.  I. 


THE   THRYDE    BUKE 


OF  THE 


OBYGYNALE    CRONYKIL 
OF    SCOTLAND. 


Eije  Prolong  off  tfje  ft^rglie 

En  tfjts  next  Cjjapttere  sfte  sail  lufce, 

MoYSES,  that  in  tyU  his  dayis 
Broucht  tyll  the  Jowys  thare  wryttyn  Lawys, 
Gave  thame  in  byddyng  oppynly 
Thus  wryttyn  in  Dewteronomii, 
Off  the  Bybyl  the  fyfte  Buke 
Fra  the  begynnyng,  quha  wyll  thame  luke. 
"  Memento  dierum,  that  leve  yow  noucht, 
F.  35.  b.          Antiquorum,  bot  drawe  to  thoucht 
like  generatyowne, 

And  in  thare  successyowne  :  10 

Ask  at  thi  fadyre,  quhat  at  fell, 
And  at  thine  eldrys,  quhat  thai  can  telle." 
The  sentence  off  this  autoryte 
Suld  move  men  to  besy  be, 
Thare  statis  to  kene  Orygynalle, 
And  thame  to  treyt  Memoryalle, 
Batht  off  thare  eldrys  and  thaire  dayis, 
As  in  thire  wers,  thus  Moyses  sayis ; 


132  THE   CEONYKIL  [PROL. 

(Memento  dierum  antiquorum,  cogita  genera- 
tiones  singulas : 

Interroga,  patrem  tuum,  et  annunciabit  tibi; 

majores  tuos,  et  dicent  tibi,  etc.) 
Oure  eldrys  we  sulde  folowe  off  det, 
That  thaire  tyme  in  wertu  set :  20 

Off  thame,  that  lyvyd  wytyously, 
Carpe  we  bot  lytyll,  and  that  warly. 
The  dayis  sulde  be  set  for  terme 
A  certane  purpos  for  tyll  afferme : 
Swa  stablyst  have  I  my  delyte 
Consequenter  now  to  dyt 
Wytht  delytabyll  incydens, 
And  in  plesaud  conveniens, 
The  tyme  that  Brutus  wan  this  He, 
And  callyd  it  Brytane  in  that  quhile ;  30 

And  the  dy  wysiownys  off  it,  that  he 
Made  syne  to  hys  sonnys  thre. 
Swa  furth  drywand  my  purpos 
Be  syndry  storyis  syne  to  clos 
In  it  that  tyme,  as  I  can  se, 
That  made  off  Eome  wes  the  cyte'. 
This  in  fourme  to  sped  and  hast 
The  wertu  off  the  Haly  Gast 
Be  prayere  off  the  Madyn  fre 
I  call  devotly  to  helpe  me.  40 


Explicit 


CHAPT.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  133 


Cjjaptteris  off  tfje  Efjrg&e  Bufce. 

i.  OFF  the  Jwgis  off  Israelle. 

ii.  Off  Sampson  and  hys  wychtnes. 

iii.  Quhen  Brutus  come  in  Brettane. 

iiii.  Off  a  Genealogy. 

v.  Off  Sardanapillus. 

vi.  Off  the  successyowne  off  Pers. 

vii.  Off  a  Terand  that  dyde  felny. 

viii.  Off  Olympyas. 

ix.  Off  the  Kyngys  Stane  off  Scotland. 

x.  Off  Symon  Brek  and  his  Lynage. 


F- 36-  Indpit  Pb^r 


134  THE  CRONYKIL  [B.  III. 


CHAP.  I. 

the  Jftojjt0  xrff  Israeli* 
next  Chapitm  srhall  telle. 


(JWHEN  the  assege  off  Troy  felle 

Jwgs  ras  in  Israelle, 

And  off  the  pepyll  chosyne  was 

Duk  and  chyfftane  than  Judas. 

The  lorde  off  Bezeke  than  was  tane, 

And  off  hys  fyngrys,  everilkane, 

And  off  all  his  tays  wytht 

The  utmast  endys  be  the  lyth 

Qwyt  was  strekyn  off  ;  than  he 

Sayde,  "  This,  I  trowe  no  we  done  to  me  1  0 

Be  Goddys  wyll,  for  quhylum  I 

Off  Kyngys  realle  had  sevynty 

Wndyrneth  my  burddys  set, 

Sekand  croinmys  for  tyll  ete, 

Mankyd  all  on  lyk  manere, 

As  now  my  cas  is  happynyd  here  ; 

Tharfore  off  Goddys  wyll,  I  trowe, 

Is  all  done  that  I  suffyr  nowe." 

The  kyng  off  Moab,  than  Eglon, 
Had  wndyr  hym  in  subjection  20 

The  folk  off  Israeli  auchtene  yhere, 
Quhyll  Ayot  [Ehud]  begowth  to  stere  ; 
The  quhilk  swa  agyle  wes  in  fycht 
That  batht  the  left  hand  and  the  rycht 
He  ewynlike  oysyde,  quhen  that  he 


CH.  L]  OF  SCOTLAND.  135 

In  were  wes  stade,  or  in  nielli ; 
And  for  that  oys  than  gert  he  ma 
A  scharpe  suerd  wytht  edgys  twa ; 
Syne  fra  the  folk  off  Israelle  thare 
He  presendys  and  gret  gyftys  bare  30 

Tyll  this  Eglon  that  tyme  kyng, 
That  Moab  had  in  governyng ; 
All  othir  off  dreyth  than  gert  he  drawe 
Hys  charge,  quhill  that  he  suld  schawe 
That  ilk  suerd,  that  tyme  had  he, 
On  his  rycht  syde  in  prewate 
Wndyr  his  gown ;  and  syn  onone 
He  tuke  hys  rayk  to  this  Eglon, 
And  sayd  [at]  it  war  his  wyll 
A  worde  he  had  to  say  hym  tylle.  40 

Off  his  cheare  quharein  he  sat, 
This  kyng  Eglon  ras  wp  wytht  that. 
Than  Ayot  tyt  owt  smertly 
Hys  suerd  that  he  bare  prewaly, 
And  put  it  in  his  wame  sa  fast 
Quhill  hylte  and  plumet  bath  in  past 
And  leyffyt  it  stekand  in  his  belch, 
F.  36.  b.          The  carle  was  fat  as  ony  selch, 

Bath  gore  and  cres  rane  tyll  his  hand 

That  wytht  hys  suerd  was  hym  stykand.  50 

His  famyle  thare,  wytht-owtyn  dout, 

That  was  the  chambure  than  wytht  out 

Wende  the  kyng  had  syttand  bene 

On  the  priwe,  bot  syne,  but  wene, 

Fra  thai  had  bade  lang  tyme  wytht  out 

Thai  ware  in  to  [the]  fellare  dout. 

Thare  eftyr  sone  a  key  thai  gat 

And  opynyt  the  chambure  dowre  with  that, 


136  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  III. 

In  thai  come,  and  slayne  thai  fand 

Thare  Kyng  apon  the  flure  thare  lyand.  60 

All  thus  fra  thai  fand  hym  dede 

Dyspayryd  thai  ware  off  gud  remede  ; 

But  mare  byddyng  than  tuk  thai 

Tyll  Jordane  on  the  nerest  way. 

In  this  mene  tyme  prewaly 
Ayot  chapyde,  and  in  hy 
Fled  fast  quhill  he  passyd  wele 
All  the  placys  ilk[a]  delle 
That  thare  ydolys  than  hade 

And  his  incummyng  fyrst  he  made.  70 

Off  Israeli  than  the  pepyll  alle 
He  gert  in  hy  befor  hym  calle ; 
And  wytht  thame  passyd  till  Jordane. 
All  the  furdys  everilkane 
Off  that  wattyr  he  kepyde  swa, 
That  tene  thousand  full  and  ma 
Off  the  Moabytys  thare 
Slayne  about  that  wattyr  ware. 

Sangare,  as  the  Bybyll  sayis,  80* 

Slw  wytht  a  cultyre  in  thai  dayis 
Off  the  Phylysteis  wycht 
Sex  hundyr  men  throucht  fors  in  fycht. 
Barak  als  and  Delbora 
Than  made  that  chas  on  Sysara, 
Quhen  that  Jael  hym  resawyde 
In  tyll  hyr  tent  and  hym  dyssawyde ; 
He  askyt  drynk  off  wattyr  clere 
To  gyff  hym,  gyve  hyr  wyllis  were, 
For  he  was  for  runnyne  hate, 
And  all-owr  drawkyde  wete  in  swat.  90 

Swet  mylk  than  scho  broucht  hym  tylle, 


CH.  L]  OF  SCOTLAND.  137 

And  bade  [him]  thareoff  drynk  his  fylle, 

And  coweryd  syne,  and  gert  hym  ly 

Wndyr  a  tapyte  prewaly, 

And  sayde  scho  sulde  his  wache  be, 

And  nane  suld  wyt  thare  ware  he. 

Wytht  that  to  the  dure  in  hy, 

Scho  tuk  hyr  rayk  rycht  hastyly, 

And  fand  owth  that  on  the  walle 

Ane  hamyr  and  ane  nay  11  wytht  all,  100 

And  syne  scho  waytyd  and  tuk  kepe, 

Quhill  he  was  rowtand  fast  on  slepe, 

The  nayle  than  on  his  hewyde  scho  set, 
F.  37.         And  strake  on  fast  wytht  that  malyhet, 

Dryfand  down  rycht  throucht  his  hewyde, 

Swa  Sysara  the  lyff  he  lewyde. 
Off  the  folk  off  IsraeUe  than 
Gedeon  agayne  Madian 
Chesyd  thre  hundyre  men  that  were 
Lapand  wattere  as  hundys  here,  110 

And  lete  all  the  lave  ga  by 
That  he  saw  drynkand  than  kyndly  ; 
And  wytht  thai  thre  hundyr  quite 
This  Madian  than  wes  discumfyte. 

Jopte  than  alsua  Galaadyte 
Awowyt  gyff  he  discumfyte 
Amon,  that  he  sulde,  but  let, 
Off  his  hous  quhat  evyr  he  mete 
Nest  eftyrhend  his  wyctory 

Devotly  to  God  sacryfy.  120 

Swa  hapnyd  that  hys  douchtyr  yhyng, 
Wytht  tympanys  and  wytht  swet  syngyng, 
Met  hyr  fadyr,  this  Jopte", 
Quhen  cumyn  fra  that  fycht  wes  he ; 


138  THE  CRONYKIL  [B.  III. 

Than  in  hart  set  he  wes  wa, 

Yhit  syne  he  wes  oblysyd  swa 

Hys  sacryfice  set  hym  to  do, 

And  to  that  assentyd  scho  ; 

Bot  at  scho  mycht  murnand  be 

Twa  moneth  hyr  wyrgynyte  ;  130 

To  that  leve  he  gave  hyr  sone, 

And  scho  thare  eftyre,  quhen  that  wes  done, 

Tyll  hyr  fadyr  come  agayne, 

And  he  tyll  sacryfice  has  hyr  slayne. 


CHAP.  II. 

next  Chapitm  0chall  onont 
ilte 


JL  HAE  eftyr  wes  Sampsone  off  renowne 

And  slw  the  quhelpe  off  a  lyowne, 

As  he  wytht  his  faddyr  yhed, 

And  wytht  his  modyr  in  yhouthede, 

"Wytht  a  wyff  to  maryde  he 

All,  but  thare  wyttyng,  that  dyde  he.  140 

Swa  [tharjeftyre  quhen  he  was 

Weddyd  wyth  that  wyff,  off  cas, 

He  hapnyde  to  cum  to  that  stede, 

Quhare  that  he  [left]  the  lyowne  dede, 

A  gret  swarme  off  beys  thare 

Wele  hyvyd  wyth-in  the  chaftys  ware  : 

Off  that  best,  than  gredyly 

He  tuke  and  ete  off  that  huny  : 

Tyll  his  fadyre  syne  he  yhede, 

And  tyll  his  mudyr  full  gud  spede,  150 


CH.II.1  OF  SCOTLAND.  139 

And  gert  thame  off  that  huny  ete. 
Eftyr  that  syne  at  the  mete 
Quhare  off  his  wyff  the  frendys  alle 
Assemblyt  wes  at  that  bridalle, 
That  his  fadyr  till  hym  made, 
F.  37.  b.          As  in  that  land  thai  custum  hade, 
And  off  his  wyffys  kyn  thretty, 
The  nobylest  in  that  cumpany, 
Assygnyd  till  hym  wes  to  be, 
As  feris  in  all  honeste  ;  160 

Than  to  that  thretty  at  the  mete, 
As  thai  ware  in  thaire  greys  sete, 
He  sayd,  gyff  thai  walde  wndo 
A  rydyll  that  he  wald  schaw  thame  to, 
Wytht-in  sevyn  dayis  off  that  brydale 
Wyth  kyrtylis  thretty  garmentys  hale 
He  suld  gyve  thame  to  thare  mede, 
And  falyhyde  that,  thai  sulde,  but  drede, 
Swylk  thretty  garmentys  tyll  hym  pay ; 
To  this  than  assentyde  thai,  170 

And  bade  that  he  suld  say  thaim  tyll 
Quhat  ewyr  war  lykand  tyll  his  wylle. 
"  Off  hym  that  ete  the  mete  come  owt, 
And  swetnes  off  the  stark  and  stoute," 
Sampson  sayid,  and  syne  thai 
Fra  this  wes  sayd  held  on  thare  way, 
And  studyand  on  this  rydyll  were, 
Quhyll  thare  terme  wes  cummyn  nere, 
And  [qwhen]  they  sawe  be  nakyn  slycht 
That  [this]  rydyll  rede  thai  mycht ;  108 

All  thai  thretty  come  on-one 
Tyll  the  wyff  off  this  Sampsone, 
And  bad  scho  suld,  on  ony  wys, 


140  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  III. 

Fleche  hyr  lord  wytht  swylk  quentys, 
Quhyll  that  he  sulde  all  the  dout 
Off  that  rydyll  tell  hyr  owt, 
And  to  thame  scho  sulde  telle  it  hale, 
Swa  that  thai  ran  noucht  in  tynsalle, 
Or  ellys  thai  sulde  hyr  hous  bryn, 
And  all  that  ewyre  thai  fand  thare  in,  190 

For  thai  sayde  wytht  hale  assent, 
Gyff  thai  ware  in  tyll  that  intent, 
Tyll  fest  callyd,  that  thai  sulde  be 
Dyspoylyt,  it  war  wnhoneste. 
This  wyff  swa  on  hyr  husband  yhede, 
That  hym  behowyd  apon  nede 
Tell  hyr  all  the  suthfastues, 
Set  lang  tyme  that  he  gruchand  wes, 
Hym  excusyde  be  that  skylle 
That  it  come  nevyr  in  his  wyll  200 

Tyll  his  fadyr  that  to  say, 
Na  tyll  his  mudyr  to  that  day ; 
Tyll  his  wyff  yhit,  nevertheles, 
He  tauld  all  how  it  hapnyde  wes. 
Off  the  lyown,  that  he  lewyde 
Slayne,  and  fand  syne  in  his  hevyde 
A  byk  off  beys,  and  gret  copy 
In  it  he  fand  off  suet  huny. 
To  thai  thretty  than,  but  bade, 
Scho  tauld  quhat  wyttyng  that  scho  hade:         210 
Swa  apon  the  sewynde  day, 
F.  38.         As  syttand  at  the  mete  war  thai, 

And  wes  examynyt  throwch  Sampson, 
Thai  ansueryd  all  and  sayd  onone, 
"  Quhat  than  the  lyowne  is  starkare, 
And  quhat  than  huny  is  suettare  ? " 


CH.  ii.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  Hi 

Wytht  that  Sampson  wyst  rycht  wele 

He  wes  dessayvyde  ilk[a]  deylle, 

He  sayd,  "  Na  had  yhoure  tylch  bene  wrocht 

Wytht  my  qwy,  yhit  had  yhe  noucht  220 

Fundyn  my  propositioune." 

Fra  thine  he  passyd  tyll  Askaloune, 
And  thretty  men  that  he  fand  thare 
Eyche  robys  on  thame  bare, 
He  slw  all,  and  thare  robys  fyne 
He  gave  to  thai  thretty  syne 
That  he  heycht  tyll  warysowne 
Sen  thai  assolyeit  his  questyowne. 
Bot  tyll  his  wyff  he  kest  sik  leth 
That  thai  departyd  all  in  wreth,  230 

And  wes  dyspytwys  and  fellowne 
Tyll  hyr  and  all  hyr  natyown, 
And  on  sere  wys  [he]  thame  anoyid, 
And  all  thare  cornys  hale  he  stroyid. 
For  in  his  wayth  sone  eftyr  that 
Thre  hundyr  foxis  qwyk  he  gat, 
And  knyt  tyll  all  thare  taylis  schyre 
Ane  hat  cole  off  brynand  fyre, 
And  set  thame  in  thare  flattis  gret, 
Than  growand  grene  off  wyne  and  quheyt ;         240 
And  thai  wyld  bestys  than 
All  wode  throucht  thai  feldys  rane, 
Wytht  thai  blesys,  here  and  thare, 
Quhyll  brynt  wp  all  thare  cornys  ware 
Than  the  Phylisteis  hale 
[That]  tholyt  that  scaytht  and  that  tynsalle 
Movid  in  tyll  brynand  ire 
Sampsonys  hous  set  in  tyll  fyre ; 
His  wyff  and  hyr  syre  at  anys 


142  THE   CEONYKIL  [B.  III. 

Thai  gert  bryn  wp  in  to  thai  wanys.  250 

Than  Sampson  that  [na]  strenthys  had 
In  tyll  a  cove  his  duellyng  mad, 
And  the  Phylisteis  off  were 
Sone  assemblyt  thare  powere, 
And  in  the  land  off  Juda  thai 
Come  wyth  thare  ost,  and  in  it  lay 
And  tuk  gret  prayis  to  thare  mete, 
And  dyde  in  tyll  it  schathis  grete, 
And  quhen  the  barnage  off  Juda 
Arresownyde  thame  quhy  [thai]  dide  sua,          260 
Thai  said  [at]  thai  come  onone 
To  bynd  and  led  away  Sampsone, 
And  to  quyt  hym  lyl  for  lal. 
Off  Juda  than  the  barnage  alle 
Thai  oblysyd  errare  [him]  to  ta, 
F.  38.  b.          Or  thai  sulde  be  anoyid  swa. 
Than  the  Phylisteis  all  hale 
Removyde  off  Juda  thaire  batayle. 
Thre  thousand  wycht  men  off  Juda 
Than  passyd  wytht  rapys  new  to  ta,  270 

And  for  tyll  bynd  this  Sampsone  fast. 
Al  thus  as  thai  togyddyr  past, 
Sampsone  met  thame  on  the  way 
And  askyd  quhethir  thare  gat  lay, 
And  thare  ansuere  wes  that  he 
Sulde  bundyn,  and  syne  yholdyne  be 
Tyll  his  fays ;  [for]  thai  ware 
For  his  caus  than  anoyid  sare ; 
And  than  that  thai  sulde  noucht  hym  sla, 
He  yhald  hym  tyll  thame  off  Juda.  280 

Thare  wes  he  tayne  and  bundyn  fast, 
And  wytht  hym  on  thaire  way  thai  past, 


CH.  II.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  143 

And  the  Phylisteis,  quhen  that 

He  wes  tane  full  wyttyng  gat, 

Bolenyt  all  wytht  brage  and  bost, 

Agayne  hym  come  wytht  a  gret  ost ; 

Bot  Sampson,  quhen  he  sawe  thame  nere 

Comand  all  on  that  manere, 

Wytht  a  tyt  thare  [he]  brak  alle 

Thai  rapys  in  tyll  pecys  smalle,  290 

And  gat  a  chek  bane  off  ane  ass, 

That  in  the  gat  thare  lyand  wes, 

And  fra  he  gat  that  in  his  grype 

He  leyt  abowt  hym,  quhype  for  quhype, 

Quhyll  off  the  Phylisteis  wycht 

A  thousand  men  to  ded  was  dycht 

Wytht  that  cheke  bane  off  ane  ass ; 

And  Sampsone  thare  forfowchtyn  was, 

Sa  hate  [and]  thrysty  nere  that  he 

Was  in  to  poynt  to  peryst  be  ;  300 

Tyll  God  his  prayer  he  mad  than, 

Syne  throucht  Hys  grace  he  wychtnes  wan, 

Quhare  throucht  his  fays  he  put  to  dede, 

As  than  wes  sene  in  to  that  stede, 

He  walde,  gyve  His  wyllis  were, 

Grant  hym  his  fill  off  wattyr  clere 

Quhare  wyth  he  mycht  thare  slok  his  thryst. 

Eycht  hastyly  than  begouth  to  bryst 

Owt  off  a  [tuythe]  off  that  chek  bane 

Wattyr  clere  in  to  gret  wane,  310 

Thareoff  than  he  drank  his  fylle  ; 

And  fra  thyne  he  passyd  tyll 

The  gret  cyte  off  Gaza, 

Thare  in  quiet  a  quhyll  to  ta. 

Thare  tyll  a  woman  yhuug  and  fare 


;144  THE  CEOISTYKIL  [B.  III. 

He  oysyd  mekyll  his  repayre ; 
And  quhen  the  Phylisteis,  but  lete, 
Wyst  he  had  thare  his  resset, 
Thai  enbussyd  thame  ner  by 

F.  39.         That  womanys  hous,  all  prewaly,  320 

And  set  thare  wachys  for  to  se 
Quhen  wnarayid  all  was  he, 
That  swa  thai  mycbt  hym  best  supprys ; 
And  he,  wnwarnyd  off  thare  spyis, 
Wytht  that  woman  yhed  to  bede, 
As  he  noucht  off  that  buschement  drede. 
Bot  that  nycht  or  it  wes  day 
Thare  was  made  hym  so  hard  assay, 
Quhyll  to  the  yhattis  off  fors  he  past 
That  lokyt  wer  and  barryd  fast,  330 

And  thare  he  made  than  rak  for  rak 
Quhyll  conyhe  and  rabet  bath  he  brak, 
And  ruschyde  wp  thai  yhattis  thare, 
And  on  hys  schuldrys  wp  thame  bare 
To  the  hey  hyll  outht  Ebron  ; 
All  thus  eschapyd  than  Sampson. 

Syne  oysyd  he  repayre  to  ma 
Tyll  a  queyne  callyd  Dalyda, 
And  scho  amang  thare  preweteis 
Counsaylyde  throwcht  the  Phylisteis,  340 

In  hyr  flethyng  thraly  mowyde 
And  askyt  oft,  as  he  hyr  lufyde, 
Quhar  in  hys  fors  stud  and  hys  pyth, 
And  quhat  that  he  ware  bundyn  wyth 
Sa  fast  mycht  [hald]  than  that  he 
Mycht  at  his  fays  lykyng  be. 

» 

Quhen  that  he  sawe  thare  that  he  wes 
Sa  thraly,  throuch  hyr  wantownes, 


CH.  ii.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  145 

Infesteyde  than  that  hym  behuwyde 
Mak  hyr  ansuere  he  contruvyde  350 

A  feiiyheyd  ansuer,  and  he  sayde, 
"  Wytht  sevyn  corddys  newe  layde 
Off  hert  cynownys  noucht  all  dry, 
But  a  party,  fast  ware  I 
Bundyn,  doutles  I  war  than 
Bot  as  ane  othire  comoune  man." 
Quhen  the  Phylisteis  herd  that, 
In  hy  thai  tha  corddys  gat, 
-  And  scho  thame  helde,  and  tuk  gud  kepe 
Tyll  he  was  sadly  fallyn  on  slepe,  '360 

And  wytht  ane  hank  than  bath  his  handys, 
Fast  scho  festynyde  wytht  thai  bandys, 
And  cryit  syne  lowde,  wytht  a  schowt, 
"  Now  all  thi  fays  ar  the*  abowt." 
Sampson  off  his  slepe  wytht  that 
He  stert  wp,  and  [on]  solys  gat, 
And  wytht  a  rug  thai  rapys  all 
He  crakyde  in  to  pecys  smalle. 
Quhen  this  queyne  all  this  had  sene, 
Scho  mulyd  fast,  and  maid  hir  tene,  370 

And  off  hyr  werdys  wykyd  plenyheyde, 
For  in  tyll  falsjiede  luffe  he  fenyheyde 
Tyll  hyr  that,  for  his  luffe  all  hale, 
Had  put  hyr  body  to  tynsale. 
F.  39.  b.  Bot  in  thare  flechyng  syne  agayne, 

Quhen  Dalyda  made  hyr  to  frayne 
Off  the  mater  off  his  pyth, 
And  off  hys  wndoyng,  wyth 
That  hym  behuwyd  on  nede  to  ma 
Ansuer  tyll  hyr,  he  sayd ;  "  Quha  380 

Walde  bynd  hym  wyth  twa  bandys  grene 
VOL.  I.  K 


146  THE  CRONYKIL  [B.  III. 

And  new,  that  nevyr  in  werk  had  bene, 

He  sulde  be  na  wychtare  than 

Than  anothir  comoune  man." 

Than  wytht  thai  rapys  scho  hym  band 

Fast,  in  his  slepe,  bath  fute  and  hand, 

And  wyth  a  schout  scho  cryid  on-one 

"  Thi  fays  are  on  the*  nowe,  Sampsone." 

Thare  in  his  walknyng,  wytht  a  brayde 

[Than  thai]  twa  rapys  newe  layde  390 

He  brak,  and  gat  wpon  his  fete. 

Wytht  that  scho  brystyd  out  off  grete, 

And  menyd  hyr  wykyde  werdys  sare 

That  broucht  and  band  hyr  in  that  care, 

That  scho  couth  nevyre  leve  Sampson 

To  be  made  lady  off  Sydon. 

It  is  suet  lykyng  and  na  payne 

To  luffe  and  [to]  be  lufyt  agayne ; 

But  for  luff  to  yheld  fenyhyng, 

It  is  to  lele  hart  a  throwyng.  400 

Swylk  [is  the  werde]  off  Dalyda, 

That  changyd,  scho  sayd,  welle  for  wa, 

Off  hart  and  body,  kyn  and  kyth, 

And  off  all  warldys  welth  thare  wyth, 

For  Sampsone  scho  had  mad  chaynge, 

And  he  tyll  hyr  was  alway  strange, 

And  had  hyr  in  tyll  myslewyng, 

That  for  lele  luffe  he  yhald  fenyhyng. 

Yhit  thus  murnand,  nevertheles, 

Scho  fraynyde  fast  off  his  wychtnes  410 

Quhar  in  it  stude,  and  how  that  he 

Mycht  lychtlyest  our-cummyn  be. 

Than  he  sayde,  "  Gyff  scho  wald  bynd 

Sevyn  harys  off  his  hewyd  behynd 


CH.  ii J  OF  SCOTLAND.  147 

Wytht  a  threde  tyll  a  spykyn, 
And  in  the  erde  fast  styk  it  syne  ; 
Than  ware  he  febyll  and  off  na  pyth, 
Na  had  noucht  for  tyll  helpe  hym  wyth," 
That  the  thryd  tyme  scho  assayid, 
And  off  his  slepe  syne  hym  affrayid,  420 

And  he  tyt  wp  that  nayle  wyth  pyth, 
And  left  bayth  hare  and  threde  thare  wyth. 
Quhen  scho  saw  hyr  the  thryd  tyme  swa 
Dyssavyde,  than  scho  mad  gret  wa, 
That  scho  lyk  wes  tyll  have  bene  dede 
All  thus  dyspayrid  off  remede. 
Than  Sampson,  movid  in  pete", 
Tauld  hyr,  all  in  prewate, 
That  gyve  sevyn  harys  off  his  hewyde 
War  schawyn  off,  nane  off  thame  lewyde,  430 

He  war  off  pyth  and  wychtnes  than 
F.  40.         Bot  as  ane  othir  commoune  man. 
And  quhen  his  hevid  was  lyand 
Apon  hyr  skyrt,  and  he  slepand, 
Scho  gert  slely  a  barbare 
Off  hys  hevyd  schawe  all  the  hare, 
And  the  Phylisteis  in  hy 
Scho  gert  cum  on  him  suddanly. 
Thai  tuk  hym  and  his  eyne  put  owte, 
And  thare  eftyr,  wytht-owtyn  dowt,  440 

Thai  kyst  hym  in  a  presowne. 
Sa  lang  he  lay  in  that  dungeowne 
Quhill  on  his  hevid  the  hare  grewe, 
And  his  pyth  worthyde  fresche  and  newe. 

The  Philysteis  on  thare  wys 
Tyll  Dagone  mad  thare  sacryfice 
Apon  a  day,  wyth  gamyn  and  gle, 


148  THE  CRONYKIL  [B.  III. 

Wytht  myrtht,  and  wytht  solempnyte", 

And  in  thare  halle,  as  thai  were  set, 

That  day  to-gyddyr  at  thare  mete,  450 

A  boy  thai  gert  [gang]  onone 

To  bryng  amang  [tham]  in  Sampson, 

That  he  mycht  thare  bowrdoure  be, 

In  ekyng  off  thare  gamyn  and  gle. 

And  quhen  he  was  amang  thame  alle 

Led  in  to  that  mekyll  halle, 

The  boy  that  hym  kepyd  thare 

He  requiryt  wyth  fayre  prayare 

To  thole  hym,  bot  a  lytill  space, 

Syne  he  for  standyn  wery  was,  460 

Tyll  a  pyllare  leyne  hym  thare, 

Quhill  that  he  refresched  ware  ; 

Thare  the  boy  wyth-outyn  lete 

Sampson  at  a  pyllare  sete, 

And  [he]  prayid  to  God  off  niycht 

That,  for  the  tynsalle  off  his  sycht, 

A  rewengeans  he  mycht  wyn 

Off  all  his  fays  that  war  thare  in. 

About  twa  pyllarys  than,  but  let, 

At  that  hows  was  hale  on  sete,  470 

He  kest  hys  armys  hastyly, 

And  ruggyt  at  thame  dogytly, 

And  sayd,  "  My  lyff  in  perale  ga 

Wytht  the  Phylysteis,"  and  swa 

The  post  he  tyt  tyll  hym  sa  fast 

Quhyll  downe  the  hous  [come]  at  the  last, 

And  sa  smoryd  all  at  wes  thar  in, 

Man  and  wyff,  bath  mare  and  myn. 

Swa  si  we  he  ma  in  his  deyng 
Than  all  that  he  slwe  in  fychtyng.  480 


CH.  in.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  149 

In  Israeli  than  wes  na  kyng 
Bot  ilkane  wroucht  [at]  thaire  lykyng. 


CHAP.   III. 

next  Chiqtttm  fxrlcrtoattb 

ttU  qtolun  $5r:bttt0  famn  this  lanfo. 


F.  40.  b.         OEEE  Dardane  Lord  wes  off  Frygy, 
That  now  men  callis  all  Turky  : 
He,  as  the  story  tellys  ws, 
Had  a  sone  callid  Erictomis, 
Off  quham  Troyus,  that  Troy  made, 
And  off  hym  that  name  it  hade  : 
He  gat  Ylus,  that  Ylion 

Fwndyt,  and  gat  Leamydon,  490 

That  [Priame]  gat,  and  Anchises 
That  Eneas  fadyr  wes  : 
And  this  [Priame]  nemmyde  befor, 
That  fadyr  wes  to  grid  Hector, 
That  was  sa  wycht  and  sa  worthy, 
That  nevyr  yhit  na  chevalry 
Hear  yhed  than  his  persowne, 
Tharfor  yhit  lestys  hys  renowne. 

Eneas  sone  Askaneus 

Had  a  sone  callyd  Silvius,  500 

That  Brut[us]  gat,  quham  off  beforne 
Wes  devynyd,  or  he  wes  borne, 
That  off  gret  wyrschype  [he]  suld  be, 
And  rys  to  state  and  dignyte  ; 
Bot  he  suld  fadyr  and  mudyr  sla. 
And  off  cas  it  fell  rycht  sua  : 


150  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  III. 

For  his  mudyr  at  hys  beryng 
Deyd ;  [and]  quhen  that  he  wes  yhing 
Off  fyftene  yhere  eld  off  case 

SI  we  his  fadyr  at  the  wanlas ;  510 

And  tharefor  owt  off  that  cuntre" 
Fra  kyth  and  kyne  wes  flemyd  he. 
Quhen  that  this  Brutus  flemyd  was, 
Furth  toward  Grece  the  way  he  tays, 
Quhar  mony  off  Troy  a  wele  lang  quhille 
Had  bene  in  thryldome  and  exyle : 
Fra  thai  gat  wyttyng  thare,  that  he 
Be  leneage  was  off  thare  cuntre, 
Thai  maid  hym  thare  duk  and  ledare ; 
And  fra  he  wyst  welle  ho  we  thai  ware  520 

Demaynyd  into  foule  thrildome, 
He  movyde  wes  for  thar  fredome. 
Swa  hapnyde  hym  to  ta  the  Kyng 
And  anyd  for  hys  rawnssownyng 
For  to  gyff  that  tyme  hym  tylle 
Schyppys  and  wyttaylle  till  his  wylle, 
And  large  ryches  tyll  his  men ; 
And  syne  his  dowchtyr  Inogen 
He  gave  hym  als  to  be  hys  wywe. 
He  buskyt  hym  thare  eft  belyve,  530 

And  to  the  Se  has  tane  his  way, 
Quhare  that  he  trawalyde  mony  day 
In  wayth  and  were  and  in  bargane 
*'•  4i-         Quhyll  that  he  werownyd  haly  Spayne. 
Syne,  eftyr  syndry  gret  melle, 
By  Poytere  in  tyll  Frans  [come]  he. 
And  in  the  tyme  yhe  herde  me  telle 
Than  Sampsone  ras  in  Ysraelle. 
In  tyll  Albyone  belywe 


CH.  in.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  151 

He  come,  quhare  nowthire  man  na  wywe  540 

To  sauff  geawntis  thare  he  fand ; 

Tyll  hym  he  sesyd  all  that  land, 

And  realle  was,  and  [of]  gud  fame, 

And  callyd  that  land  eftyr  his  name, 

And  it  inhabytyd  wytht  his  men, 

And  gat  wpon  this  Inogen 

A  sone  Locryne,  and  othir  twa, 

Camber  and  Albanach  war  tha. 

The  eldest  Locryne  Ingland  aucht, 

Camber  Walys,  syne  Albanacht  550 

Off  Scotland  had  the  senyhoury. 

Than  Yngland  callyd  wes  Locry  ; 

And  Camber,  Cambry,  that  Wallys  auch 

Gert  call  it ;  and  syne  Albanach 

Gert  Albany  call  that  land, 

That  now  callyd  is  Scotland, 

Thus  Brute  Brettane  gert  partyd  be 

Amang  thir  forsaid  barnys  thre, 

And  byggyd  in  his  land  a  towne, 

Yhit  realle  [and]  off  gret  renowne,  560 

Arid  Trynovant  than  gert  he 

Call  the  name  off  that  cyte, 

New  Troy,  that  is  to  say, 

Syne  quhen  this  Brute  wes  dede  away, 

Wytht  othir  namys  sere,  I  wys, 

Wes  callyd,  and  now  Londyii  is. 

All  thus  quhen  thir  brethir  thre 
Had  stedede  thame  in  thare  cuntre, 
And  in  tyll  quiete  and  in  pes 
llkane  in  his  regnand  wes,  570 

Sodanly  come  oure  the  se 
Off  Hennygawys  a  gret  menyhe : 


152  THE  CKONYKIL  [B.  III. 

Be  nawyne  in  tyll  Albany 
Arrywyde  all  that  cumpany, 
And  stoutly  mowyd  were,  and  faucht, 
And  slwe  off  Scotland  Albanacht, 
And  chasyde  his  men  halyly, 
Tyll  Locryne  Lord  than  off  Locry, 
That  Yngland  wes  callyd  syne, 
Hys  ost  than  gadyryt  this  Locryne,  580 

And  Cambere  wytht  the  Welsche  hale 
Conie  to  mak  hym  suppowale 
And  wytht  the  Henygawys  thai  faucht, 
That  slwe  the  Kyng  Albanacht ; 
Thai  met  the  wattyr  off  Humbere  nere ; 
F.  41.  b.          Thare,  wyth  the  kyng  and  his  powere, 

Thai  mellayd  sone,  and  faucht  rycht  fast, 

Quhyll  thai  hym  wencust  at  the  last ; 

And  on  that  Kyng  thai  maid  sic  chas, 

Quhyll  in  that  fhide  he  drownyd  was.  590 

Hys  land  callid  was  Hunia; 

Huuys  his  men  [was]  callyd  alsua : 

And  quhar  sa  mony  drownyd  were, 

The  wattyr  callid  was  Humbere. 

Quhen  Albanactus  on  this  wys 
Was  slayne,  as  yhe  me  herd  dewys, 
Scotland  was  dyssawarra  left, 
And  wast  nere  lyand  lang  thare  eft, 
Quhyll  Scottis  and  the  Peychtis  were 
In  tyll  it  cumrnyn,  as  yhe  sail  here  600 

In  tyll  this  Tretis  here  eftyre  sone, 
Quhen  all  the  lawe  tyll  it  is  done. 

This  Locryne  had  a  sone,  but  ma, 
Madaine,  and  he  had  sonnys  twa 
Memprys  and  Malyne ;  bot  Memprys 


CH.  IIL]  OF  SCOTLAND.  153 

Smyttyd  wes  wytht  mony  wys ; 

Hys  brothyr  he  slwe,  and  syn  all  tha, 

That  he  couth  trow  that  wald  thaim  ma 

For  tyll  succede  tyll  hym  as  kyng. 

It  happynyde  syne  at  a  huntyng  610 

Wytht  wolwys  hym  to  weryde  be ; 

Swa  endyt  his  iniquite". 

His  sone  Ebrawce  in  hys  stede 
Kegnyd,  quhen  that  he  wes  dede ; 
He  fwndyd  Yhork  that  gret  cyte, 
And  Kayrbroyc  it  callyd  he. 
He  byggyd  Edynburgh  wytht  alle, 
And  gert  thaim  Allynclowde  it  calle 
The  Maydyn  Castell,  in  sum  plas 
The  Sorowfull  [Hill]  it  callyd  was.  620 

Off  Bruttus  lyneage  quha  wyll  here 
He  luke  the  Tretis  off  Barbere 
Mad  in  tyll  a  Genealogy 
Eycht  wele,  and  mare  perfytly 
Than  I  can  on  ony  wys 
Wytht  all  my  wyt  to  yowe  dewys. 

Bot  now,  forthare  or  I  pas, 
I  wyll  tell  how  that  Eneas 
Fra  that  he  slwe  the  Kyng  Latyne, 
Weddyd  hys  dowchtyr  dam  Lawyne,  630 

And  gat  wpon  hyr  Postumus, 
That  wes  callyd  alsua  Silvius ; 
He  was  callyd  Postume  [for]  beforne, 
Hys  faddyr  deyde  or  he  wes  borne  ; 
Silvius  allsua  callyd  wes  he, 
That  off  the  wode  has  propyrte, 
F.  42.         For  in  the  wode  he  fostyryde  was : 
Hys  sone  was  callyd  Eneas ; 


154  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  III. 

He  regnyd  thretty  yhere  and  ane, 

Quhen  all  his  fadyr  tyme  wes  gane,  640 

And  fyfty  yhere  he  regnyd  syne. 

Eneas  sone  was  callyd  Latyne. 

Gad  that  tyme  and  Natan 
Prophetis  ware  contemporan 
Tyll  Dawy  Kyng  off  Israeli. 
In  that  tyme  Cartage,  I  herd  telle, 
Dydo  fyrst  gert  formyd  be, 
And  wallyd  welle  that  gryte  cyte ; 
Hyr  gudame  lufyde  Eneas ; 
Off  Affryk  hale  scho  Lady  was.  650 

Heyr  the  Thryd  Elde  now  tayis  end, 
That,  as  the  Ebrewy  mays  ws  kende, 
Contenys  nyne  hundyr  yhere 
And  twa,  gyff  all  wele  rekynyd  were  ; 
Bot  the  Sevynty  clerkis  wys 
Sayis  twa  les,  be  thaire  storys. 
All  this  tyme  Noe  his  spate 
Thaire  oys  was  for  to  set  thaire  date, 
As  now  cure  oys  is  in  lettrys, 

Monumentis,  or  than  chartrys,  660 

To  rekyn  fra  the  byrth  off  God, 
As  yheris  hapnys,  ewyn  or  od. 


CHAP.    IV. 


(Dr  3E  fxrrthgr  nato  pt0ab«, 
<S)ff  the  Il0mattt)$  I  toill  rib*. 


L 


ATYNE  kyng  off  Ytaly, 
Eftyre  the  dede  off  Sanct  Dawy, 


CH.  iv.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  1 55 

Gat  Alba  Sylvius  onone, 
In  to  the  tyme  off  Salamon : 
In  Eome  he  regnyd  fourty  yhere. 
All  thir  that  thus  rekynyde  were 
Discendand  fra  Postumus, 

To  surname  wes  callyd  Sylvius.  670 

Athis,  that  callyd  wes  Egyptus, 
And  had  till  surname  Silvius, 
In  Eome  foure  and  twenty  yhere 
Eegnyd,  quhen  devysyt  were 
Off  Israel  the  kynrykys  and  Juda ; 
Jeroboam  had  ane  off  tha : 
He  kyng  wes,  and  in  hys  dayis 
That  scisim  fel,  as  the  story  sayis ; 
Kyng  off  Israeli  than  wes  he 

Eoboam  regnyd  in  Jude\  680 

Capis  Silvius,  but  were, 
In  Eome  aucht  and  twenty  yhere 
As  lord  regnyd,  quhen  Asa 
Wes  kyng  rygnand  in  Juda. 
That  tyme  in  Chawmpayne  he 
Gert  fownd  and  mak  a  gret  cyte. 
In  Eome  Carpent  eftyre  that 
Eegnyd,  quhen  that  Josaphat 
F.  42.  b.          Was  off  Juda  lord  and  kyiig. 

Syne  off  Eome  the  govemyng  690 

Tiberius  tuke,  and  wes  off  it 
Nyne  yhere  lord,  as  sayis  the  wryt. 
Than  Octosias  off  Jude 
The  kynryk  had  in  propyrte. 
The  wattyr  of  Tybir  than  alsua 
Callid  be  name  wes  Albula, 
Bot  for  this  Tyberius, 


156  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  III. 

As  sayis  Tytus  Lyvyus, 

Drownyde  wes  in  that  ryvere, 

Thai  callyd  it  Tyber  syne,  but  were.  700 

In  Eome  syne  regnyde  Agryppa, 

Quhen  Acab  regnyd  in  Juda, 

And  Homere,  as  the  story  sayis, 

Wes  in  to  Grece  in  to  tha  dayis. 

Syne  regnyd  in  Korne  Armulus 

That  had  to  surname  Sylvius, 

Nyntene  wyntyr  regnyd  he, 

Quhen  Joas  kyng  was  off  Jude 

Thre  and  thretty  wyntyr  syne. 

Eftyre  hym  regnyd  Awentyne.  710 

In  his  tyme  Amasias 

Kyng  in  Juda  rygnand  was. 


CHAP.    V. 


CDff  (SarfcanapiUtts  she  0&U  her 
In  tgll  thi0  next  Chapiter. 

.A.WCHT  hundyr  wyntyr  and  sextene, 
Or  God  wes  off  the  Maydyn  clene 
Borne,  the  land  off  Assyry 
Sardanapillus  halyly 
Aucht  be  lyne  off  herytage 
Ewyn  descendand  be  lynyage 
Fra  Nynus,  befor  than  kyng, 
At  that  land,  had  in  governyng.  720 

His  oys  wes  mare  wytht  rok  to  spyne 
Than  landys  to  the  crowne  to  wyne, 
And  kunandnes  fer  mar  he  had 
\ 


CH.  v.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  157 

How  mony  here  the  spyndyll  made, 
Than  for  to  blasowne  in  to  were, 
As  his  knychtis  oysid  to  bere, 
Armys  off  thaire  awncestry, 
Or  ony  dedys  off  chewalry. 

Off  Mede  the  kynrik  than  in  cheffe, 
Wytht  alkyne  serwice  and  releffe,  730 

Arbatus  held  off  this  kyng, 
The  quhilk  had  all  tyme  gret  yharnyng 
This  Sardanapillus  tyll  have  sene, 
And  off  his  duellyng  tyll  have  bene, 
And  tyll  haff  had  off  hym  reward, 
Syn  in  to  cheffe  he  wes  his  larde 
Off  all  the  kynrik  off  Medy, 
Off  kynd  his  hart  gaffe  hym,  for-thi, 
Befor  ony  othir  lard 

To  mak  him  serwys  for  reward.  740 

Apon  this  purpos  tyll  assay 
Hys  lord  in  till  grid  array, 
He  buskyt  hym  rycht  honestly, 
F.  43.         And  welle  arayid  his  cumpany, 
And  to  the  towne  off  Babilone 
Wyth  his  court  he  come  onone 
Innys  he  tuk,  and  bad  rycht  thare 
And  realy  mad  hym  to  fare, 
Bidand  opertunytte, 
And  tyme,  his  our-larde  for  to  se.  750 

Sa  in  the  castelle  on  a  day 
He  come  in  tyll  his  best  aray, 
Wytht  his  court  and  his  menyhe, 
Commendyd  off  gret  honeste. 
Quhare  that  he  wend  for  tyll  have  sene 
Lordys  cled  in  red  and  grene, 


158  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  III. 

Knychtys,  ladyis,  alid  squyerys, 

Haukys,  hwndys  and  courserys, 

And  thare  lord  in  fayr  array 

Aniang  thaim  in  to  joy  and  play ;  760 

Than  he  fand  that  drowy  doude 

Amang  a  pak  off  karlynys  loud 

Flytand  redy  for  to  fecht, 

As  he  wes  wandland  off  his  wecht ; 

His  yharne  sponnyn  resawand, 

And  towe  to  spynyng  delyverand. 

Quhen  Arbatus  his  lord  had  sene 

Apon  this  wys,  he  wes  full  tene, 

And  hym  removide  than  in  hy, 

And  passyd  agayne  hame  in  Medy ;  770 

Thare  his  ost  he  gadyryt  sone, 

And  passyd  to  Babilone,  but  hone, 

And  wytht  the  Sardanapillus  fast 

Faucht,  and  tuk  hym  at  the  last, 

And  gert  be  maid  on  a  bale  fyre 

Off  gret  schyddys  byrnand  schyre, 

And  that  fyre  he  gert  cast  in 

Sardanapillus,  for  to  bryn, 

And  gert  thame  all  hale  off  Assyry 

Mak  tyll  hyme  homage  halyly,  780 

And  hald  thare  laud  off  hym  in  cheffe 

Fra  thine,  wytht  serwys  and  releffe 

And  trewage  to  the  Medys  pay, 

That  held  off  thame  befor  that  day. 

This  wes  the  fyrst  confusioune 
That  ewyre  yhit  come  to  Babyloune, 
That  wes  the  mast  pryncipalle 
Off  the  fyrst  foure  Kynrikis  hale, 
And  stud  ellewyn  hundyr  yhere, 


CH.  vi.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  159 

And  foure  and  sexty  passyde  clere,  790 

In  wyrschipe  growand  and  in  state 
Quhyll  the  tyme  that  Arbate 
This  ryffille  maid,  and  fra  that  day 
Babilone  wes  falyhand  ay. 
Thus  in  sege  a  sot  to  se, 
Or  do  a  dowde  in  d  ignite, 
Sail  ger  standand  statys  stavire, 
P.  43.  b.          And  wyll  bath  wyt  and  wyrschype  wavir. 

It  is  langsum  for  to  telle 

How  mony  changys  that  tyme  felle  800 

Betwene  the  lordys  off  Assyry 
And  the  Medys  syndryly, 
Quhill  ane,  quhill  othir,  tributere, 
As  werd  off  were  maid  thaim  to  stere. 

Procas  than  off  Ytaly 
Had  the  lordschype  halyly. 


CHAP.   VI. 

t0  Cthapiter 


S 


YNE  eftyre  that  tyme  [Arbates] 
Lord  and  syre  off  Medys  wes, 
And  regnyd  twa  and  twenty  yhere 
Assayid  oft  [in]  werys  sere.  810 

Tyll  hyin  succedyd  Diocles, 
That  in  all  dedys  douchty  wes  ; 
Sere  landys  lyand  hym  aboute, 
Tyll  Medys  he  maid  wndirlowt. 
Astrages  syne  eftyre  that 


160  THE  CKONYKIL  [B.  III. 

Off  Medys  all  the  lordschipe  gat, 
That  ayrys  male  off  his  body 
Gat  nane ;  off  that  land,  for-thi, 
Hys  douchtyr  sone  hys  ayre  he  maid, 
To  propyr  name  that  Cyrus  haid,  820 

And  he  wytht  fycht  and  hard  batayle 
Forbare  na  thyng  for  tyll  assayle 
Hys  eldfadyr  Astrages, 
And  he  than  in  his  reklesnes 
Foryhet  the  mys  that  he  had  done 
Tyll  Arpallus,  quhen  he  his  sone 
Had  slayne,  and  syne  gert  hym  be  set 
Before  his  fadyre  at  the  met, 
In  quartarys  lyand  on  a  weschelle, 
Wytht  precyous  spycys  farsyd  welle.  830 

Bot  he  gert  all  rawe  be  lewyde 
The  twa  handys  and  the  hewide, 
The  quhilk  he  gert  the  fadyr  se, 
Quhen  off  the  body  full  wes  he, 
And  luche  at  hym  dispytwysly 
In  hethyng  off  that  mangery. 
All  the  cure  off  his  batayle, 
And  off  his  ost  the  governaile, 
He  lippynyd  to  this  Arpallus 
The  quhilk  be  tresowne  tyll  Cyrus  840 

Yhald  thaim.     Than  Astrages, 
That  in  his  hart  all  angry  wes, 
Hys  ost  assemblyd  hastyly, 
And  on  the  Perseis  doggydly 
He  duschyd  on  quhyll  that  in  fycht 
Mony  dour  to  ded  wes  dycht 
Cryand  fast  that  he  suld  de 
F.  44.         Quha  ewyr  hym  maid  on  bak  to  fle". 


CH.  vi.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  161 

Thare  the  Medys  war  so  felle, 
And  on  the  Perseys  sa  cruell,  850 

That  mony  douchty  thai  gert  de, 
The  lave  on  bak  begouth  to  fle, 
The  Medys  nere  had  hade  the  felde 
Na  ware  the  wywys,  that  behelde 
And  sawe  the  Perseys  in  batayle, 
How  fayntly  thai  begouth  to  fayle, 
To  stand  thai  maid  thaim  fayre  prayere, 
And  consalyd  thaim  on  fayr  manere. 
Bot  the  Perseys  war  sa  rad, 

For  the  pres  thai  war  in  stad,  860 

That  thai  dowtyd  all  to  de ; 
For-thi,  thai  maid  thame  all  to  fle. 
Than  all  thai  wywys  wytht  a  cry 
Reprovand  thaim  dispitwysly, 
Tyt  wp  thare  clathis  outh  thaire  scheyre, 
And  poyntyt  to  thaire  prewa  gere 
That  betwene  thaire  lymys  stude  ; 
And  wytht  a  schout,  as  thai  war  wude, 
"  In  here,  in  here,  syne  yhe  ar  rade, 
And  in  sa  staverand  state  ar  stade,  870 

Yhone  folk  ar  felowne  for  the  nanys, 
(Thai  rowpyd  wytht  a  rare  at  anys,) 
Sen  othir  succoure  have  yhe  nane, 
Na  yhe  can  se  na  bettyr  wane, 
Gyve  yhe  wyll  yhoure  lyvys  kepe 
In  tyll  oure  cutkane  nowe  yhe  crepe ; 
And  here  in,  gyve  yhe  hyd  the  hevid, 
Thare  owt  mon  all  the  lave  be  lewyde." 
The  Perseys  than  aschamyd  were, 
And  turnyd  agayne  wytht  thare  powere,  880 

And  wytht  the  Medys  faucht  sa  fast 
VOL.  I.  L 


162  THE  CKONYKIL  [B.  III. 

Quhill  thai  thame  wencust  at  the  last 
And  off  thame  slw  a  gret  party 
And  wan  the  feld  rycht  dowchtily. 
Thane  thaire  wes  tane  Astrages, 
Tyl  Cyrus  he  delyverid  wes, 
The  quhilk  maid  hym  halyly 
Lord  and  syre  off  Hyrcany, 
Bot  Medy  and  the  landys  thare 
To  Pers  fra  thine  wes  tributare  ;  890 

Bot  thare  wes  cyteis  syndry, 
That  aucht  trewage  to  Medy, 
The  quhilkys  in  to  Cyrus  dayis 
Payid  noucht  thare  for  alwayis. 
This  Cyrus  wes  in  gret  trawayle, 
And  mowand  were  and  hard  batayle. 


CHAP.   VII. 

0all  j)lu  here  in  till  hg 
CDff  a  ^Qtzne  %tti  ielxmg. 


F.  44.  b.          JP  ALAEYS  off  Cyzile  than 

Wes  in  hys  dedys  [a]  felown  man  ; 

The  Agrigentynys  halyly 

He  wndyde  wytht  his  felowny.  900 

Agrigent  wes  a  regyowne 

Farnows  and  off  gud  renowne, 

In  to  the  Se  wytht  in  that  yle, 

That  is  the  kynryk  off  Cyzile. 

This  Falarys  wes  off  dedys  fell, 

And  off  intentys  rycht  cruelle, 

Till  hyrn  wes  bath  indifferent, 


CH.  VIL]  OF  SCOTLAND.  163 

Culpabile  in  payne,  and  innocent ; 

For  ay  in  a  delyt  wes  he 

Men  towrmentid  in  payne  to  se,  910 

And  for  to  se  thaire  kowntenans 

That  thai  wald  mak  in  thaire  peiinaus. 

He  ay  in  to  this  lykyng  stude, 

Swa  nere  hym  by  a  smyth  wes  gude, 

Perillus  callid,  wythin  his  land 

This  smyth  ay  duelt,  hys  craft  oysande, 

And  set  all  hale  his  diligens 

Till  have  had  the  benyvolens 

Off  thys  tyrand,  that  wes  were 

To  wyne  na  tyne  all  owt  befere,  '920 

As  nowe  lardys  be  renowne 

Ar  comoune  off  condityoune. 

This  smyth  that  kend  to  this  tyrand 

Quhat  thyng  war  till  him  mast  plesand, 

He  made  in  hy  a  bull  off  bras, 

Large  and  hole  wyth-in  it  was, 

And  sa  rowine*  wyth-in  wes  it 

That  ewyne  wp  rycht  a  man  mycht  syt 

Wytht-in,  for  it  wes  made  sa  wyde, 

Wytht  a  dure  opynand  on  the  syde  930 

Ordanyt  all  for  thare  entre 

That  wytht-in  sulde  pynyde  be, 

And  to  be  stekyd  fast  wytht-owt ; 

Syne  a  gret  fyre  made  abowt 

Sulde  ger  the  pynyde  wytht-in  rare 

All  lyk  a  nowte  thoucht  man  he  ware. 

This  lume  mad  apon  this  wys, 

Polyst  fayre  and  rycht  fetys, 

This  smyth  broucht  in  to  presaud, 

It  for  to  gyve  to  this  tyrand.  940 


164  THE  CKONYKIL  [B.  III. 

Falaris,  that  all  aboute 
Sawe  this  welle,  hath  in  and  owt, 
And  gert  hym  all  the  fawtys  mend 
That  mycht  be  sene  off  it  or  kend, 
And  gert  that  ilk  smyth  in  ga 
To  prewe  the  lenth  and  breid  alsua, 
And  gert  syne  steke  the  dure  with-out 
And  kendyll  fyre  rycht  fast  about 
Off  thornys  and  off  schyddys  gret ; 
The  smytht  wytht-in,  quhen  he  felde  hete          950 
Paynand  hym  aye  mare  and  mare, 
F.  45.       Off  nede  behowyde  thain  for  to  rare 
Swa  that  he  like  wes  in  to  rowt 
In  tyll  his  dede  thrawe  till  a  nowte ; 
The  fyre  wyth-owt  thare  kendyllyt  sa  fast 
The  smyth  wytht-in  wes  at  the  last, 
Wytht  paynys  strang,  but  all  remede, 
Wytht-in  hys  handy  werk  thare  dede  : 
Swa  caus  and  matyr  bath  gave  he 
Tyll  his  dede,  and  tyll  cruelte.  960 


CHAP.   VIII. 

bz  comstitnt^on  teas 
xnrbangt  the  <SHimpia0. 


hundyr  wyntyr  and  four  score 
And  fully  fyvtene  yhere  before 
Or  God  off  Mary  borne  was, 
In  Grece  the  Olympias, 
In  the  honowr  off  Jupitere, 
Wes  ordanyd  ilk[a]  fyft  yhere. 


CH.  YIII.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  165 

And  for  this  cans  it  ordanyd  thai 

At  tha  termys,  but  delay, 

That  that  foryhet  noucht  be  na  wys, 

And  at  the  cost  sulde  les  supprys  970 

At  tha  termys  than  wytht  in, 

And  he  that  mycht  [the  gre]  thare  wyn 

Off  towrneainentys,  or  justyng, 

Menstrahsy,  or  wersslyng, 

Or  quhat  kyn  gamyn  that  fyft  yhere 

In  the  Olympy  cryid  were, 

Thare  sulde  be  made  hym  na  warnyng 

Off  quhatkyn  thyng  he  mad  askyng. 

This  a  quhyle  in  oys  thai  hade 

And  syne  be  statute  thai  it  made,  980 

And  fra  that  constitutioune 

Thai  made  in  thare  descriptioune, 

Evry  ilke  yhere  be  yhere  the  date, 

In  all  the  letterys  at  thai  wrate, 

Fra  thine  all  thare  inherdans, 

Held  that  oys  and  that  ordynans, 

And  for  that  Grece  wes  off  gret  fame, 

And  than  sa  realle  wes  off  name, 

Before  the  tyme  the  Eomanys  ras 

That  date  in  tyll  all  landys  was,  990 

For  floure  in  Grece  wes  off  clergy, 

And  off  wyrschipe,  and  off  chewalry. 

For-thi,  mony  landys  ware 

Led  be  thaire  oys  and  be  thare  fare. 

Off  Italy  the  kyng  Procas 
Wes  ded  than,  and  regnand  was 
His  sone  thare  eft,  Amylyus, 
That  callid  wes  alsua  Silvius. 
He  regnyd  fourty  yhere  and  foure, 


166  THE  CRONYKIL  [B.  III. 

And  banysyd  his  brodyre  Munytoure,  1000 

That  had  a  dowchtyr  callid  Eea ; 
F.  45.  b.      Scho  wes  delyver  off  twynnys  twa, 
The  tane  wes  callid  Romulus, 
The  secuud  brodyr  wes  Remus. 
Throuch  enchantment  on  Rea 
Gottyn,  thai  sayd,  thir  twynnys  twa. 
Bot  be  the  lawys,  nevyr-the-les, 
In  erd  ail  quyk  scho  dolwyn  wes, 
And  thir  twa  twynnys  fundyn  were 
Wndyr  a  bra  be  Tybere  nere,  1010 

Quhar  a  hyrd  than  apon  cas, 
Fawsculus  that  callyd  was, 
Happynyd  to  cum  by  that  bra 
Quhar  that  he  fand  thir  twynnys  twa, 
And  to  Laurentia,  his  wyffe, 
That  spendyd  in  to  lust  hyr  lyff, 
And  mekyll  wyth  hyr  body  wan, 
(Quharefor  scho  Lupa  callid  wes  than, 
And  the  bordale  hous  was  syne 
Callyd  Lupanar  in  Latyne),  1020 

Thir  twynnys  twa  he  broucht  in  hy, 
And  bade  hyr  kepe  thame  tendyrly ; 
And  wytht  hyr  war  thai  nwryst  thare 
Till  thai  to  manhed  cummyn  ware ; 
And  for  a  scho  wolffe  in  Latyne 
Is  Lupa  callyd,  thare-efftyre  syne, 
In  Rome  quhare  that  thare  figure 
Wes  sene  in  aid  tyme,  in  sculpture, 
Or  payntyd,  thai  twa  soukand  wes 
A  wolf,  in  tyll  ane  liklynes.  1030 

Thir  twa  gadyryt  off  revarys, 
Off  thewys,  and  off  mysdoarys, 


CH.  ix.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  167 

A  gret  multitud  in  hy, 
And  ras  off  were  rycht  stoutely, 
And  slwe  Amylius  that  before 
Banysyd  thare  eldfadyre,  Munitore, 
And  restoryd  thare  gudsyre 
Tyll  his  land  and  hys  empyre. 


CHAP.    IX. 


the  ^sngi0  <Stattt  xrff 

,  anb  JJrettanghe. 


L 


the  mene  tyme  that  this  felle, 
That  ye  herd  off  thir  bredyre  telle,  1040 

Thare  wes  regnand  a  mychty  Kyng, 
That  had  all  Spayne  in  governyng : 
This  kyng  mony  sonnys  had, 
Off  ane  off  tha  yhit  mast  he  made, 
That  Symon-Brek  wes  callyde  be  name, 
Ane  honest  man  and  off  gud  fame. 
A  gret  Stane  this  Kyng  than  had, 
That  for  this  Kyngis  sete  wes  made, 
And  haldyne  wes  a  gret  jowale 
Wytht-in  the  kynryk  off  Spayne  hale.  1050 

F.  46.      This  kyng  bad  this  Symon  ta 

That  Stane,  and  in  tyll  Yrland  ga, 
And  wyn  that  land  and  occupy, 
And  halde  that  Stane  perpetualy, 
And  mak  it  his  sege  thare 
As  thai  off  Spayne  did  off  it  are. 

This  Symon  did  [than]  as  the  Kyng 
Fullyly  gave  hym  in  byddyng, 


168  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  III. 

And  wane  Yrland,  and  chesyd  his  place, 

Quhare  honest  and  mast  lykand  was.  1060 

Thare  he  made  a  gret  cyte", 

And  in  it  syne  that  Stane  gert  he 

Be  set,  and  haldyn  for  jowale 

And  chartyr  off  that  Kynryke  hale. 

Fergus-Ercson  fra  hym  syne 
Down  discendand  ewyn  be  lyne 
In  to  the  fyve  and  fyfty  gre", 
As  ewyne  reknand  men  may  se, 
Broucht  this  Stane  wytht-in  Scotland, 
Fyrst  quhen  he  come  and  wane  that  land  :        1070 
And  fyrst  it  set  in  Ikkolmkil, 
And  Skime  thare-eftyre  it  wes  broucht  tylle. 
And  thare  it  wes  syne  mony  day, 
Quhyll  Edward  gert  have  it  away 
Kyng  off  Ingland,  and  syne  he 
Gert  it  set  in  Lundyn  be, 
A.D.  1310.       Eftyre  that  Jhesu  Cryst  wes  borne, 
To  sauffe  oure  lyff  that  was  forlorne, 
A  thousand  and  thre  hundyr  yhere 
And  ten  thare  tyll,  or  thare  by  nere.  1080 

Now  will  I  the  werd  rehers, 
As  I  fynd  off  that  Stane  in  wers : 

Nl  FALLAT  FATUM,  SCOTI,  QUOCUNQUE  LOCATUM 

INVENIENT  LAPIDEM,  REGNARE  TENENTUR  IBIDEM. 
"  Bot  gyff  werdys  falyhand  be, 
Quhare  evyr  that  stane  yhe  segyt  se, 
Thare  sail  the  Scottis  be  regnand, 
And  lorddys  hale  oure  all  that  land." 


CH.  x.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  169 


CHAP   X. 

^gttum-JJrekkis  linage  here 
Chapitere. 


.  HIS  Symon-Brek  eftyre  that 
Fyakak-Bolgeg  to  sone  gat ; 
He  fadyr  wes  off  Duat-Locres ; 
Eakak-Vadek  his  sone  wes ;  1090 

And  Usuemoere  his  sone  gat ; 
Costek-Baelbrek  eftyre  that ; 
And  his  sone  callid  wes  Melge  ; 
Jero  syne  thare-eft  gat  he, 
That  fadyr  wes  off  Comata ; 
And  his  sone  wes  callid  Elela- 
Casiaclek,  that  eftyre  then 
Gat  Eacak-Aldeten ; 
His  sone  Catan  gat  Cure  ; 

Fyere-Elmael  gat  he ;  1100 

F.  46.  b.      And  hys  sone  Fyere-Anroet 
Fadyr  wes  off  Fyre-Eoet ; 
Fyre-Cetaroat  efftyre  that 
Angus-Turnec  to  sone  gat ; 
Fyarak  gat  Neroen ; 
Ellala  gat  Earen : 
Feraret  to  sone  gat  he, 
That  Fergo  gat,  and  he  Mawe ; 
Arynden  wes  syne  fadyre 

Tyll  Eegyne,  that  gat  Eoteyre  ;  1 1 20 

Hys  sone  Trere  gat  Eosyne ; 
And  he  syne  fadyr  wes  to  Fyne ; 


170  THE  CKONYKIL  OF  SCOTLAND.         [B.  III. 

He  had  a  sone  calde  Dedaa ; 

Jaere  his  sone  gat  Elela ; 

Elela  gat  Eogen ; 

Edarste-Nyl  his  soue  wes  then ; 

And  he  Conare-Moere  gat ; 

Corbre-Fynmor  eftyr  that 

Gat  Dare-Dowrmere,  and  he  syne 

To  sone  gat  Corbre  callyd  Congyne ;  1 130 

Lugnaes-Allodeg 

Gat  Magalama  that  Stege, 

That  Conare  gat ;  and  he  alsua 

Cadak-Kydesedek-Corbre-Rygada 

Gat ;  and  syne,  as  I  herd  telle, 

Fyacrak  syne  Catynelle 

Gat  Eacrak-Andoad ; 

To  sone  he  Acyre-Cyryr  had ; 

Hys  sone  syne  Fideacek 

Gat  Crudyde,  that  Seancormek ;  1140 

Eftyre  this  Seancormek 

Fedemet  gat  Eephynek ; 

Engus-Byntynet,  but  les, 

Off  Fedynet-as-Lugeg  wes 

Fadyre,  and  syne  eftyr  that 

Angus-Fyere  to  sone  he  gat ; 

Eacak-Mourea-More 

Gat  Ert,  and  he  gat  Fergus-More. 

To  thir  or  I  rekyne  ma, 
Tyll  othire  matere  wyll  I  ga.  1150 


[(Explicit  l£ib.er 


THE    FERDE     BUKE 


OF  THE 


ORYGYNALE  CEONYKIL 

OF    SCOTLAND. 


THE    FERDE    BUKE 

- 

OF  THE 

OBYGYNALE    CBONYKIL 
OF    SCOTLAND. 


tfjts  Cjjapttm  fcrfjaiti  anfc  iufc 
$r010ug  off  tfje  JJtrfce  iSuft. 

1 ULLYUS  that  of  Kethoryk 
A  Tretys  made  to  be  publik, 
Fourme  off  dyte  and  fayre  spekyng 
Plesand  tyll  oys  and  tyll  lieryng, 
A  garland,  [said,]  gottyn  wyth  gret  peryle, 
Grene  suld  lestand  be  lang  quhile, 
Onwalowyd  be  ony  intervale 
F.  48.        Off  tymys,  bot  ay  in  wertu  hale. 
Be  this  clerkis  autoryte 

A  garland  as  a  crowne  sulde  be  10 

Wndyrstandyn  wytht  all  rycht, 
A  takyn  off  wyrschype,  state  or  hycht. 
The  crowne  wes  gyvyn  for  wyctory 
In  auld  tyme ;  Saynt  Paule  for-thy 
Tymotheum  fayrly  techid, 
Off  hym-  self  quhen  thus  he  prechyde  : 

Certamen  certavi :  Cursum  consummavi. 
De  reliquo  reposita  Est  mihi  corona. 
The  grene  hew  delyte  oftsys, 
Oys,  or  plesance  signyfyis. 


174  THE  CRONYKIL  [B.  IV. 

Quha  the  crowne  than  will  hald  grene, 

Off  thaim  that  has  before  thaim  bene,  20 

Drawe  thar  delyt  till  here  or  rede  * 

Thare  famows  werkis  dwne  in  dede : 

Swa,  tyll  excyte  yhour  delyte, 

I  have  set  me  now  to  wryte 

And  to  trete  in  this  wolume, 

Quhen  byggyde  was,  be  Romule,  Rome, 

That  his  brothir  Remus  slwe, 

Fyrst  tyll  that  lordschipe  quhen  he  drwe ; 

Wytht  othir  storys  and  iucydens 

Plesand  lik  tyll  yhoure  reverens,  30 

That  ar  this  Tretys  tyll  here  or  rede, 

In  tyll  this  part  gyffe  yhe  procede 

Era  end  tyll  end,  yhe  sail  welle  kene, 

Be  power  off  gret  douchty  men 

That  the  Romanys  wan  the  crowne, 

And  Imd  in  tyll  subjectioune 

All  the  warld  oblyst  thane 

And  hale  subdyt  tyll  a  man, 

That  wes  Octowyane  Empryoure, 

Quhen  Cryst  wes  borne  oure  Sawwyoure  40 

Off  the  maykles  Maydyn  brycht, 

Now  crownyd  Queyn  in  hewynnys  hycht. 

Till  hyr  suete  wyrgynyte 

This  Tretys  I  commend,  and  me, 

Tyll  end  my  purpos  swa  to  bryng, 

That  all  redwne  in  hyr  lowyng. 

(Explicit  $r01xrjjtis. 


B.  IV.] 


OF  SCOTLAND. 


175 


Cijapttms  off  tfje  JFerti 


v. 
vi. 
vii. 

F.47.  b.  viii. 
ix. 
x. 
xi. 
xii. 
xiii. 
xiiii. 
xv. 
xvi. 
xvii. 


xx. 


xx. 


i.         W  U  HEN  Romulus  and  Remus  maid  Rome, 
ii.        Quhen  Consules  governyd  Rome, 
iii.       The  destructyoune  off  Babilone. 
iiii.      Quhen  Cyrus  wan  the  Kyng  Cresus. 

Off  Cyrus  dedis. 

How  Darius  wes  discumfyt. 

How  Exerces  wes  discumfyte. 

Quhen  the  Scottis  wes  before  the  Peychtis. 

Off  Brennyus  and  Bellynus. 

Off  a  feU  Pestylens. 

Off  Alysawndrys  fyrst  rysyng. 

Howe  the  Tarentynys  warrayd  the  Romanys. 

Quhen  Hanyball  wes  discumfyte. 

Off  a  Flud  that  the  Cyte  nere  oure-yhude. 

Quhen  Hanyball  discumfyt  the  Romanys. 

Off  thre  bollys  off  Ryngis  send  to  Cartage. 

How  Hanyball  wes  lettyd  off  his  purpos. 
xviii.  Quhen    the    Kyng  Antyocus    anyd    wytht   the 

Romanys. 
xix.     Quhen  fyrst  the  Pechtis  come  in  Scotland. 

Quhen  Cartage  wes  ordanyd  to  be  wndwne. 

Quhen  the  Romauys  wan  Achaya. 
xxii.    Quhen  the  Romanys  gert  Cartage  be  byggid  agayne. 
xxiii.  Quhen  mony  Romanys  ware  slayne,  and  women 
fell  wode. 


176  THE  CKONYKIL  [B.  IV. 

xxiv.   Off  syndry  taknys  that  fell  in  Eome. 
xxv.    Off  Julyus  Cesare. 
xxvi.  Off  Octoviane. 


CH.  L]  OF  SCOTLAND.  177 


CHAP.  I. 


<|tohene  gUme  ani)  HonutU  the  Cite 
£jjr0t  gert 


hundyr  wyntyr  and  fyftene 
Or  God  was  off  the  Maydyn  clene 
Borne,  and  off  Olympias 
The  sext  ordyr  rynnand  was, 
That  in  to  Grece  than  was  thar  date 
In  all  the  chartrys  that  thai  wrate, 
Off  Eome  the  gret  cyte  was  made, 
And  off  it  hale  the  lordschype  hade 
Eomule,  that  his  brothir  slwe 
Swne  fra  he  to  lordschipe  drwe,  1  0 

And  eftyr  hym  syne  gert  he 
Eome  be  callyt  that  cyte\ 
And  tyll  hym  that  lordschipe  hale 
In  profyt  tuk,  and  governale, 
And  wallyt  it  rycht  welle  wythoute, 
Wytht  dykis  off  fale  and  mwde  aboute. 
Ane  hundyr  men  he  chesyde  off  eylde, 
That  wayk  ware  wapnys  for  to  weyld, 
Bot,  for  wyt  and  gud  consale, 
To  tha  he  lypnyd  the  governale  20 

Off  the  comoune  state,  and  he 
Tha  Senatowyrs  gert  callyt  be. 
He  chesyd  syne  a  thousand  hale, 
Yhong  and  lykly  to  batayle, 
And  Knychtis  he  gert  call  all  tha, 
Thaire  name  in  Latyne  sowndys  swa. 
VOL.  i.  M 


178  THE  CRONYKIL  [B.  IV. 

Komule  off  eylde  was  twenty  yhere 
And  twa  quhen  he  begouth  to  stere 
In  Rome,  and  regnand  was  auchtene 
Yheris,  [ful]  in  dedis  clene  30 

F-  48.         And  syne  hapnyd  he  peryst  was 

Throw  hard  tempest  and  swdane  cas. 

Eftyre  that  dede  was  Romulus 
Numa  regnyd  Pompilyus 
Ane  and  fourty  yhere,  and  he 
Fyrst  gert  ordane  knychtis  fe\ 
Before  hym  Marche  wes,  but  were, 
The  fyrst  begynnyng  off  the  yhere, 
Bot  he  gert  the  monethis  twa, 
Janwere  the  fyrst  off  tha,  40 

The  secund  Fevyryhere,  but  let, 
Alwayis  before  Marche  [be]  set. 
In  hys  tyme  Ezechias  fre 
Wes  kyng  regnand  in  Jwde\ 
Sybile  than  Eryttea 
Was  in  the  tyme  off  this  Numa. 

Eftyre  hym  regnyd  Tullius, 
Be  surname  cald  Hostylyus. 
In  tyll  his  tyme  Manasse" 

Wes  kyng  regnand  in  Jwde.  50 

He  oysid  mykyll  for  to  were 
Purpur,  silk,  and  browdyn  gere. 
Before  his  tyme  the  Romanys  hale 
Lywyd  in  pes  wytht-out  batayle 
A  welle  lang  tyme,  bot  eftyre  he 
Gert  tyll  his  lordschipe  bowsum  be 
The  Albanyis,  that  in  that  quhile 
Fra  Rome  off  space  wes  auchtene  myle, 
And  othir  natyownys  mony  sere, 


CH.  L]  OF  SCOTLAND.  179 

To  Eome  he  mad  than  tributere  60 

In  tyll  his  tyme  mekyll  off  prys 
Wes  Sybyle  Samya  the  wys. 
The  kyng  than  off  Spartany, 
The  cyte  maid  off  Bysanty ; 
Now  thai  oys  in  landys  all 
Constantynopyll  that  to  calle. 
Eftyre  the  dede  off  Tullius 
In  Eome  regnyd  the  kyng  Antus. 
In  tyll  his  tyme  Josyas 

Kyng  in  Jude  regnand  was,  70 

He  gert  be  maid  a  gret  cyte", 
And  Osten  it  callyd  he. 
He  regnyd  thre  and  twenty  yhere 
And  dyde  off  profyte  dedys  sere. 

Till  hym  succedyde  syne  Pryscus, 
To  surname  callid  Tarqwynyus, 
He  maid  a  burche  rownd  in  his  dayis 
Wytht-in  the  towne  till  oys  thare  playis 
As  to  dans,  pype,  or  syng, 

Or  to  wresstyl,  and  mak  justyng.  80 

Cysternys  he  gert  be  maid  depe, 
Fylth  or  wattyr  for  to  kepe. 
F.  48.  b.       That  all  the  glwt  wyth-in  the  towne 
In  tyniys  mycht  be  castyne  downe 
Throucht  thai  cysternys  for  to  ryne 
The  gret  wattyr  off  Tibere  in 
That  the  cyt4  mycht  ay  be 
Kepyd  fra  glwt  in  honeste. 
The  Capytole  he  [fyrst]  gert  ma, 
And  be  name  [it]  callid  swa;  90 

For  as  thai  ware  the  grounde  rypand, 
Off  ane  man  [the]  hevyde  thai  fand 


180  THE  CRONYKIL  [B.  IV. 

For-  owtyn  body,  quhar-for  thai 

The  Capytole  it  callid  ay. 

In  Rome  he  regnyd  thretty  yhere 

And  aucht  owte-oure  tha  passid  clere ; 

Quhen  Joachym  off  Judo* 

Had  all  the  land  in  propyrte". 

Eftyr  hym  regnyd  Servius, 

Callid  be  surname  Tullius.  100 

He  gert  be  drawyn  dykis  depe 
Abowt  the  wallys,  at  thai  mycht  kepe 
Thaire  towne,  gyff  ony  wald  assayle 
Thame  wytht  assawt,  or  wytht  batayle. 
He  wes  the  fyrst  kyng,  as  thai  say, 
That  gert  the  Romanys  custum  pay  ; 
Befor  his  tyme  thai  war  sa  fre 
That  thai  wyst  noucht  quhat  toll  suld  be. 
Syne  slayne  was  this  Serwius, 
Throucht  ane  wes  cald  Tarquynyus  110 

The  Proude,  and,  quhen  that  he  was  dede, 
He  kyng  regnand  wes  in  hys  stede. 
In  to  this  tyme  Sedechias 
Kyng  in  Juda  regnand  was, 
And  Nabugodonosor  he 
Kyng  than  regnand  in  Calde\ 
Made  the  gret  confusioune 
Off  Jowis,  and  thare  destructiowne. 

The  Ferde  Eylde  heir  endis, 

The  quhilk  off  yherys  contenys,  120 

As  the  Hebrwys  reknys  clere, 
Foure  hundyr  wyntere  and  thre  yhere ; 
The  Sevynty  clerkis  sayis  cure 
Four  hundyr  yher  four  score  and  foure. 


CH.  ii.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  181 


CHAP.  II. 

etttiu  kgngt£J  t&anenhs 
In  to  liotttt  ffr0i  chosen 


JbjFTY] 


TE  the  dede  off  Servius 
In  Eome  proude  Tarqwynyus 
Eegnyd,  and  than  Cyrus  kyng 
Off  Pers  had  all  the  governyng. 
He  was  a  man  off  gret  felny 

And  wmbethoucht  hym  increly  130 

With  quhat  tormentis  men  mycht  be 
Punysyde  for  thaire  inyqwyte, 
As  fetrys  or  presonyng, 
Stokkys,  boyis,  or  banysyng. 
He  wes  exilyd  in  his  dayis 
F.  49.       Off  Eome,  as  Frere  Martyne  sayis, 
For  his  sonys  inyquyte, 
That  had  deforsyd  a  lady  fre, 
A  gentill-woman  off  gud  fame, 
Lucretia  was  callid  hir  name.  140 

Scho  plenyheyd  tyll  hir  husbandis  sone 
Off  the  defoule  wes  till  hyr  done, 
Till  hir  fadyr  and  hir  kyne, 
Till  all  syne  that  scho  mycht  to  wyn, 
And  led  hyr  dayis  a  quhile  in  pyne, 
And  si  we  hyr-self  for  sorowe  syne. 
Syne  this  proud  Tarquynyus 
Saw  that  he  wes  exilyd  thus, 
He  knyt  hym  to  the  Tuskanys, 
And  warrayd  wytht  thame  the  Eomanis,  150 


182  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  IV. 

And  wytht  his  ost,  apon  a  day, 
To  Tybyr  he  come,  in  gud  aray, 
And  quhen  thai  saw  his  gret  powere, 
The  Eomanys  all  affrayid  were, 
Bot  syne  it  hapnyd  thame  to  be 
Accordyt  welle  be  fayre  trete. 

Thir  sewyne  Kyngis  regnand  were 
Twa  hundyr  foure  and  fourty  yhere ; 
And  fra  the  kyngis  thus  can  ses, 
In  Eome  thai  chesyd  twa  Consules,  1 60 

And  tha  twa  reng  sulde  bot  a  yhere, 
For  dowt  gyff  that  thai  regnand  were 
Langare  tyme,  that  thai  suld  rys 
In  lordschype  in  swa  hawtane  wys, 
That  the  comownys  vyleusly 
Grewyt  sulde  be  throwe  thaire  maistry. 
And  twa  was  ordanyd  for  this  skyll, 
That  gyff  ane  wald  set  his  wyll 
For  lykyng  mesoure  tyll  excede, 
The  tothir  argwe  suld  his  dede,  170 

And  swa  chastyid  he  suld  be 
Fra  foule  lust  and  inyqwyte. 
Consules  than  thai  maid  twa, 
Brute  and  Lucius  cald  war  tha. 

Than  in  Eome  Pictogoras 
Deyde,  and  Anaxagoras; 
That  tyme  alsua  Socrates 
The  wenum  drank  and  poysownyd  wes. 
Arystotyll  than,  but  were, 

Wes  off  eyld  bot  auchtene  yhere,  1 80 

And  wndyr  Plato,  the  wytty, 
Studyid  and  herd  Phylosophy. 


CH.  in.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  183 


CHAP.    III. 


the 
br0to£ht  till  contusion*. 


F 


YYE  hundyr  yhere  and  aucht  beforne, 
Or  God  wes  off  the  Maydyu  borne, 
The  fyrst  off  the  Consules, 
Brute  be  name  callyd  wes, 
F.  49,  b.       The  Sabynys  in  to  stout  aray 

Made  thame  the  cyt£  till  assay, 

The  Eomanys  a  dytoure  made, 

That  oure  the  lawe  the  maystry  had,  190 

And  the  Consules  be  fere 

He  sulde  excede  in  all  powere, 

In  this  tyme  that  I  yhoue  rehers 
Cyrus  that  was  kyng  off  Pers 
Wan  a  gret  part  off  Sythy 
And  mony  landis  in  Asy, 
Syne  wytht  his  ost  [he]  come  onone 
For  tyll  assege  Babylone, 
Bot  the  rywere  off  Ewfrate 

Swa  reych  than  rysand  wes  on  spate,  200 

That  he  mycht  noucht  the  towne  cum  nere, 
Bot  worthyd  to  byd  wytht  hys  powere, 
Quhille  the  weltrand  wawys  kene 
Suld  a  part  have  swagyd  bene. 

Swa  was  in  tyll  his  ost  a  knycht, 
Yhong  and  joly,  bawld  and  wycht, 
Fayr  off  fassowne  and  fetys, 
Off  prowes  prowyd,  and  off  prys, 


184  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  IV. 

Off  Capados,  Schyre  Alaryke, 

In  all  that  ost  wes  nane  hyra  lyk,  210 

Sa  fayre  off  fasowne  and  swa  fre, 

And  gentyll  in  tyll  all  wes  lie ; 

He  luwyd  perdrewry  dame  Sabyll, 

That  lady  then  wes  off  Pamphile, 

He  paramowrys  so  stratly  luwyd 

That  perelys  as  playis  he  pruwyde 

Apon  a  cowrsoure  poumle  gray 

Adressly  he  sat  that  day 

In  tyll  a  gowne  ewyn  schaply  wyde, 

In  his  revel  bot  sadyll  syde,  220 

Wytht  brokyn  lettrys  on  that  gowne, 

Byllyde  wele  wes  his  resowne, 

Susus  geta,  that  sulde  be, 

Ese  off  consale  opyn  yhe : 

And  browdyn  wele  was  his  penowne, 

Off  gold  rampand  a  lyowne, 

He  bar  in  tyll  asure  brycht, 

Hys  ger  was  flamand  all  at  rycht. 

Thus  quhill  the  ost  thare  howyng  niaid 

And  swagyng  off  the  wattyr  bade,  230 

He  thoucht  prowes  for  till  pruve 

For  hyr  that  he  lent  on  his  luve : 

The  coursoure  he  strake  wytht  the  spurys 

And  walepand  oure  floys  and  furys. 

All  befor  the  ost  he  rade 

Quhar  stend  for  stend  the  coursere  maid, 

And  at  the  bra  quhare  nerest  was 

The  furde,  quhar  men  oysid  to  pas, 

The  hors  he  hardynyt  irwysly, 

The  coursere  lap  delyverly  240 

All  oure  the  bank  in  to  the  flude, 


CH.  iv.] 


OF  SCOTLAND. 


185 


F.  50.       The  stoure  fere  owre  thare  hewydis  stude. 
The  wawys  war  wode,  the  wattyr  depe, 
Be  na  way  mycht  the  knycht  hym  kepe. 
Bot  for  to  tell  yhoue  schortly  than 
Drownyd  wes  thare  bath  hors  and  man. 

Than  Cyrus  that  this  sycht  has  sene, 
For  angyr  off  his  hart,  and  tene 
That  sa  hys  knycht  [he]  lesyd  hade, 
Gret  athys  swore  and  wowys  made  250 

Tyll  all  his  goddis,  yhong  and  awlde, 
That  wynd  and  wattyr  had  in  waulde, 
That  he  sulde  off  that  wattyr  be 
Eevengyde  in  to  sic  degre, 
And  sa  schalde  it  sulde  be  made 
That,  set  a  woman  suld  it  wade, 
Hyr  kneys  off  it  suld  noucht  be  wate 
For  nakyne  weddare,  spryng,  na  spate. 
Than  gert  he  drawe  that  revere  all 
In  to  foure  hundyre  and  sexty  smalle  260 

And  narow  swyrlis,  throuch  feldis  brade  ; 
That  gret  rewere  sa  schalde  he  made 
That  slyke  and  klay  micht  than  be  sene 
Quhare  wattyre  depe  before  had  bene. 

Than  the  ost,  but  mare  abade, 
Thare  passyng  to  the  cyte  made, 
Throuch  the  depe  slyk  and  the  clay, 
Haldand  on  the  nerest  way ; 
And  thaire  he  lay,  wytht  his  powere, 
The  cyte  quhill  he  wan,  but  were,  270 

And  gare  cast  all  the  wallys  down 
Off  Babilone,  bath  toure  and  towne, 
That  chymys  was  off  Assyry, 
At  all  poynt  byggid  propirly, 


186  THE  CKONYKIL  [B.  IV. 

Set  in  a  lawnd  off  fresch  flewowre 
Off  haylsum  ayre,  and  suet  sawoure, 
Wytht  wode  and  wattyre  all  abowte 
Plesand,  fayr,  wytht-owtyn  dowte, 
A  hundyre  yhattis  off  irne  gret 
Fra  before  that  mekylle  yhet,  280 

And  ma  yhit  mycht  rekynyd  be 
All  abowte  that  gret  cyte  ; 
And  fra  that  mekyll  yhete  before 
Four  hundyr  stadys  and  foure  score 
It  had  in  umgang  all  abowte, 
And  tha  to  rekyn  ar,  but  dowte, 
Ane  and  fyfty  myle  and  mare, 
And  all  abowte  the  wallys  ware 
Fyve  and  twenty  elne  brade, 
Wytht  sykyre  syment  sadly  made  290 

Wytht  ane  hundyre  elne  on  hycht, 
At  alkyne  poynt  perfytly  dycht, 
And,  as  the  clerk  Orosyus 
In  tyll  hys  Cornykyll  tellys  ws, 
F.  50.  b.        It  war  bot  fantumlyke  and  fabylle, 

And  noucht  till  al  men  yhit  trowabille, 
That  mannys  wertu,  or  hys  wyte, 
Mycht  othir  do  or  wndo  it. 


CHAP.   IV. 

(Ehapitm  ttllis  hoto  dgnts 
on  torn  kjmfi 


VvJWHEN  thus  wes  wonnyn  Babylon, 

Cyrus  wytht  his  ost  onone  300 


CH.  iv.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  187 

In  Lidys  past,  wytht  playne  batayle, 

The  kyng  Cresus  till  assayle. 

This  Cresus,  that  I  yhoue  rehers, 

Held  Lydys  off  the  kyng  off  Pers  ; 

Bot  ay  till  hym  he  wes  rebel, 

In  were,  and  in  all  consale  felle  : 

Bot  for  he  wes  in  dedys  stout, 

Off  hym  ay  Cyrus  had  gret  dout, 

For  rych  and  mychty  ay  wes  he, 

And  in  all  dedys  awyse*.  310 

He  prayid  till  his  god  Appolyne 

To  grawnt  hym  wyttyng  quhat  kyne  fyne 

Last  suld  fall  off  that  discorde 

That  was  betwene  hym  and  his  lorde. 

Than  wryttyn  was  tyll  hym  this  wers 

In  Latyne  that  I  wyll  rehers. 

(Crescens  perdet  Alini,  transgressus  maxima, 

regna;) 

"  The  Creyhsceand  sail  gret  landys  tyne, 
The  wattyr  oure  passand  off  Alyne." 
This  sentence  off  this  wers  wes  thare 
For  the  kyng  off  Lidis  bare,  320 

Off  gowlys  in  to  sylver  brycht 
Thre  creyhsceandis  in  his  armys  dycht. 

This  awnsuere  Cresus  thoucht  rycht  gude 
For  othir-wayis  he  wndyrstude ; 
Than  eftyrwarde  the  gamyn  yhede, 
Or  werde  off  were,  prowyd  in  dede, 
And  said,  "  The  landys  that  I  sail  tyne 
Ar  Cyrus  landys,  and  noucht  myn, 
That  I  sail  wytht  myn  ost  oure  ryde, 
To  fell  his  ogert  and  his  pryde."  330 

Hys  ost  than  sone  and  hastily 


188  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  IV. 

He  assemblid,  and  in  hy 
Oure  that  wattyr  he  passid  onone, 
For  tyll  suppowale  Babilone, 
Quhar  Cyrus  lay,  as  yhe  herd  here, 
In  tyll  assege  wytht  hys  powere, 
And  thare  he  schawid  hym,  on  ane  hycht, 
Hys  ost  arayand  to  the  fycht. 
Bot  quhen  he  saw  on  quhat  kyne  wys 
Wencust  were  the  Babilonys,  340 

And  the  cyte  wonnyn  nere, 
He  changid  purpos  and  manere, 
And  turnyd  bak,  and  tuk  the  flycht, 
The  Perseys  lyggid  on  at  rycht, 
F.  51.       Folowand  fast  and  egyrly, 
Chasand  hym  dispytwysly, 
And  slwe  hys  men  down,  here  and  thare, 
Quhare-evyr  that  thai  ourtakyn  were  ; 
Hym-self  eschapyd  narowly, 
And  sauff  wes  fra  that  jwperdy.  350 

This  Cresus  eftyre  this  affray, 
On  a  nycht  in  his  bed  lay, 
And,  dremand  in  his  slepe,  thoucht  he 
Wes  in  a  crope  set  off  a  tre, 
Quhare  Jupitere  wyth  rayne  hym  wete, 
God  Phebus  quhyle  wytht  sone  hym  het ; 
He  thoucht  in  tyll  his  slepying  swa 
That  he  [wes]  stade  betwene  thai  twa, 
All  the  tyme  that  he  thare  lay, 
Quhille  on  the  morne  day,  360 

Than  Fariva,  his  douchtyr  yhing, 
He  callid,  and  tauld  [hir]  his  dremyng ; 
For  scho  oysid  for  till  telle 
Thyngis  sere  before  thai  felle, 


CH.  iv.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  189 

As  wychys  dois,  or  nycromancerys, 

Dissawynde  men  on  thare  manerys, 

And  throucht  the  dewyll  dissavyid  are  thai. 

Than  neid  the  certane  suth  can  say. 

Bot  throuch  thame  quhen  that  he  is  sua 

Trawalyd,  that  he  mon  ansure  ma  370 

The  ansuere  that  he  to  thame  mayis 

Offt  dowbyll  wnderstandyn  hayis, 

And  sa  it  hapnys  that  men  are 

Dyssayvid  offt  on  that  manere ; 

For  the  thyngis  that  is  to  be 

To  wyt  is  Goddys  propyrte, 

For-thi  thar-off  the  certane 

Is  nane  can  telle  bot  He  alane. 

Yhit  nevyr-the-les  this  damysel 

Tauld  hyr  fadyr  that  efftyr  fell,  380 

That  Cyrus  suld  hym  tak  in  ire, 

And  swayk  hym  in  a  brynnand  fyre, 

And  thare  he  suld  be  brynt,  but  dowt, 

Bot  gyff  the  rayne  the  fyre  put  owt. 

Sa  Cyrus  wyth  his  ost  onone 
Fra  he  had  wonnyn  Babylone, 
Past  in  to  Lydis  tyll  assayle 
This  Cresus  kyng  wytht  playne  batayle. 
Thare,  eftyre  mony  juperdyis, 

And  syndry  changyd  wyctoryis,  390 

The  kyng  off  Lydis  this  Cresus 
Wes  tane  and  broucht  quyk  tyll  Cyrus, 
And  he  gert  cast  hym  in  a  fyre, 
Off  dry  fagottis,  brynnand  schyre, 
Thare  brynt  he  noucht  bot  tholyt  payne, 
For  it  layit  on  sa  fast  off  rayne 
On  nakyne  wys  that  he  mycht  bryne 


190  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  IV. 

All  the  tyme  he  lay  thare  in. 
Off  Pers  than  the  kyng  Cyrus 

F.  51.  b.        G&ri  qwyte  delyver  this  kyng  Cresus.  400 

Owt  off  that  fyre,  and  be  trete* 
Hym  tyll  hys  restoryt  he, 
Apon  this  wys  quhen  Cresus 
Wes  fre  delyveryde  fra  Cyrus, 
Tyll  Phanwa,  hys  dochtyr  dere, 
He  tauld  the  cas,  and  the  manere, 
And  in  his  hert  he  had  gret  pryde 
That  [he]  ethchapyt  swa  that  tyde. 
But  scho  that  saw  his  hawtane  fere, 
Apon  this  wys  maid  hym  awnsuere  :  410 

"  Wyth  slycht  [swa],  suppos  yhe  slyde, 
Yhoure  lattyre  day  yhit  mon  yhe  byde : 
Before  that  day  on  nakyn  wys 
Yhe  suld  yhoure  fortown  happy  pryis 
For  at  the  evin,  or  eftyr,  ay 
Men  prysis  ay  the  fayr  day, 
And  quhen  the  lyffe  off  man  tais  end, 
Than  is  tyme  hym  to  comend." 
And  eftyre  that  scho  had  tauld  hym  thus, 
Scho  bad  hym  be  ware  that  Cyrus,  420 

At  hym  suld  noucht  sa  grewyd  be, 
That  he  suld  hang  hym  on  a  tre, 
Quhare  nevyre  rayne  wytht  mekyll  wete, 
Na  nakyn  swn  mycht  sauff  with  het. 


CH.  v.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  191 


CHAP.  V. 

Jixrto  thi0  Chapttm  0*11  izli 
Woto  the  Jbtbz  xrff  CIt)rti0  ML 


that  this  kyng  Cresus 
Wencust  wes  and  wonnyne  thus, 
Cyrus,  lord  and  kyng  off  Pers, 
Off  quham  before  I  maid  rehers, 
Past  wyth  his  ost,  as  man  off  were, 
Oure  Araxys,  that  rywere  430 

That  on  hewyd  rynnand  is 
Betwene  Sytyke  and  Lydis ; 
Dame  Tarnys  that  tyme  wes  lady 
And  quene  regend  all  Sythy, 
And  quhen  scho  hard  that  the  gret  ost 
Off  Cyrus  come  bolnyd  in  bost, 
Hyr  consale  gave  hyr  to  ger  breke 
The  bryggys,  and  alle  the  fwrdys  stek, 
And  let  thame  passage  till  have  fre, 
Wytht  swylk  ane  ost  in  hyr  cwntre'.  440 

How  evyre  hyr  lykyd  this  consale, 
Scho  gert  bath  bryg  and  fwrde  be  hale, 
And  lete  thame  oure  Araxis  fre 
Wytht-in  hyr  land  mak  thaire  entre", 
And  in  to  straytis  ner  thare  by 
Scho  gert  hyr  sone  be  prewaly, 
Hys  awantage  for  to  se, 
And  byd  his  opertwnyte", 
To  dyffend  or  tyll  assayle 
For  werd  is  waverand  off  batayle.  450 


192  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  IV 

And  quhen  Cyrus  wes  cumin  in 
F.  52.         The  land  off  Sytyke  it  to  wyn, 

For  mete  thaire  forreowrys  thai  send 

And  pavillownys  thai  gert  discend, 

And  thare  tentis  swne  in  hy, 

Be  lyklynes  to  mak  herbry, 

Trumpand  all  the  day  on  hycht ; 

Bot  quhen  it  nere  drew  to  the  nycht 

All  thaire  fyrys  thai  gert  baulde, 

As  thai  wald  styll  thaire  herbry  haulde,  460 

Off  wyne  thai  drwe  and  rostyd  flesche, 

And  ete  and  drank  thaim  to  refresche, 

And  syne  dewoydid  prewaly 

And  lete  with[in]  thare  tentys  ly 

All  thaire  wytalle  swa  assayid, 

As  thai  had  yschyd  all  affrayid. 

The  Cytykys  than  that  in  the  hicht 

Had  byddyn  all  the  day  quhill  nycht, 

Thoucht  till  hawe  fwndyn  wnarayid 

The  Perseys  hale  and  wnpurwayde,  470 

And  sa  thai  rnycht  thame  best  supprys 

In  slepe,  or  than  sum  othyr  wys, 

To  tak  or  sla  all  at  thare  wylle, 

All  thus  thaire  purpos  to  fulfil  le. 

The  Sytykys  come  wyth  thaire  batayle 

The  Perseys  derffly  till  assayle 

Wytht-in  thaire  tentis,  quhare  thai  thoucht 

That  all  sulde  at  thaire  wyll  be  wroucht. 

Off  [the]  Perseis  nane  thai  fand 

Wytht-in  the  tentys  than  sterand,  480 

For  hale  the  ost  removyde  were, 

As  I  yhowe  tauld  a  lytill  ere ; 

Than  thai  Sytykys  tuk  herbry, 


CH.  v.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  193 

And  ete  and  drank  rycht  gredyly 

Off  the  wytayle  that  was  assayid, 

Thai  tuk  rycht  fast  and  lytill  payid  ; 

Bot  or  the  gammyn  wes  all  gane 

Thai  payid  ma  than  twa  for  ane. 

Wyne  and  flesche  thai  had  at  wylle, 

Thar-off  thai  tuk  sa  gret  a  fyll,  490 

That  qwhene  wyst  thare-off  his  awine, 

How  mony  acris  he  had  sawyne, 

Bot  foryhet  thame-self  all  qwyte 

To  drynk  thai  had  sik  appetyt, 

That  wnwachid,  suddanly, 

Thai  fell  on  slepe  rycht  hewyly. 

Off  the  Perseys  than  the  spyis 

Tauld  tyll  Cirus  on  quhat  wyis 

He  mycht  hys  purpos  welle  fulfille, 

And  have  the  Sytykys  at  hys  wylle,  500 

For  all  tyme  thai  nere  thaim  ware, 

And  saw  thare  manere  and  thare  fayre. 

Wyth  that  the  Perseys  hastily 
Arayid  thame,  and  come  suddanly, 
And  fand  the  Sytykys  all  lyand 
Wytht-iri  thare  tentis  still  slepand  ; 
F.  52.  b.       Thar  thai  thaime  stekid  in  thare  slepe, 

And  slwe  thame  downe  as  thai  war  schepe, 

That  few  echapyd  fra  that  place 

To  tell  all  how  it  hapnyd  was ;  510 

The  Qwenys  swn  in  to  that  stede, 

And  in  that  pres,  was  slayne  to  dede, 

That  yhong  and  avinnand  was,  and  fayre, 

And  till  his  Modyre  nerest  ayre 

Off  all  the  landis  off  Sithy  ; 

For-thi  the  barnage  was  sary 

VOL.  I.  N 


194  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  IV. 

Off  his  ded ;  and  uevyrtheles 

His  Modyre  tuk  wp  sik  stoutnes 

And  dissymlyd  sorow  swn, 

And  hyr  arayid  wytht-outyn  hwne,  520 

Wyth  hyr  ost  in  bataylis  sere, 

And  waytand  quhar  the  Perseys  were, 

And  hyr  awantage  for  to  se 

How  best  scho  mycht.revengyd  be. 

Hyr  ost  scho  scalyd  here  and  thaire, 

Lyk  as  scho  affrayid  ware, 

And  lete  the  Perseys  wytht  thare  pryde 

Hyr  land  oure  ryot  and  oure  ryde, 

Bot  nere  scho  perswyde  ay, 

Quhill  at  the  last  [up]on  a  day  530 

Scho  saw  thame  in  tha  straytys  thare, 

Quhare  all  hyre  ost  abowt  thame  ware, 

And  scho  than  in  hyr  buschement, 

That  thoucht  to  cum  tyll  hyr  intent, 

Gert  trumpe  wp,  and  suddanly 

Brak  on  the  Perseys  hawtaynly, 

Wytht  all  hyr  ost  on  ilk  [a]  syde, 

Sa  wnibeset  thai  ware  that  tyde 

Wytht  the  Sytykys  that  nane  mycht 

Era  the  bataile  ta  the  flycht,  540 

Bot  on  nede  behuwyd  to  byd ; 

Thaire  thai  layid  on  ilk  syde, 

And  sa  fell  thare  was  the  fycht, 

That  mony  doure  to  dede  wes  dycht, 

Mony  a  hawberk,  mony  a  scheld, 

Was  all  to  frwschyd  left  in  felde, 

Bot  the  Sytykys  douchtely 

Wan  all  hale  the  wyctory. 

Twa  hundyr  thousand  thai  fand  dede 


CH.V.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  195 

Off  Perseys  lyand  in  that  sted ;  550 

The  kyng  Cyrus  off  Pers  that  day 
Wes  slayne,  [and]  thare  amang  thame  lay,    . 
The  Qweyne  that  thoucht  this  meUe*  gude, 
A  fat  gert  fill  full  off  thare  blude, 
That  slayne  in  to  that  feld  than  lewyde, 
And  syne  gert  stryk  off  Cyrus  hewyde, 
And  that  fat  gert  swayk  it  in, 
"  Drynk  thi  fill  now  or  thow  blyn, 
Scho  sayd,  "  for  thretty  yhere  and  mare 

F.  53.         Ay  mannys  blud  thow  thrystyd  sare ;  560 

Thare  thow  nowe  may  fynd  thi  fill, 
Drynk  or  lewe,  quhethyr  evyre  thow  wylle." 

Eftyr  that  Cyrus  slayne  wes, 
Hys  swn  succedyt,  Cambises, 
He  movyd  in  tyll  Egipt  were, 
And  rade  it  throucht  wyth  gret  powere, 
Thare  all  thare  templys  he  kest  downe, 
And  wndyde  thare  religiowne, 
And  at  thare  awld  ceremonyis, 
That  thai  oysid  on  syndry  wyis  570 

In  to  thare  devotyowii, 
He  had  abhomynatyown. 
Twa  spaymen  syne  put  hym  to  dede, 
And  thai  succedyt  in  his  stede. 
And  maid  thame  kyngis  off  [the]  land, 
At  thare  lykyn  it  sterand, 
Syne  Darius  ras  thame  agayne, 
And  hawe  thai  bath  in  batayle  slayne. 


196  THE  CRONYKIL  [B.  IV. 


CHAP.   VI. 


thnrto  his 
in  §>iih%. 


F 


OUR  hundyr  wyntyr  and  thris  twenty, 
Or  God  wes  borne  off  oure  Lady,  580 

Consentand  all  the  barnage  hale, 
Darius  tuk  the  governale 
Off  all  Pers  in  propirte', 
And  ryngnyd  in  gret  reawte*. 
Quhen  he  recoveryd  had  Assyry 
And  Babilone  all  halily, 
Agayne  the  kyng  Amprityre, 
Off  Sythy  bath  lord  and  syre, 
He  rasyd  ost  and  mowyd  were, 
And  come  on  hym  wytht  his  powere,  590 

For  cans  Amprytyre  the  kyng 
Off  Sythy  maid  hym  playne  warnyng 
Off  his  douchtyr  till  be  his  wyff, 
Quhen  he  hyr  askyd  for  this  stryff, 
And  this  were  Schyre  Darius 
Movyd  wpou  Amprytyrus. 
The  ost  off  Pers  wes  namyd  then 
Sewyn  hundyre  thousand  armyd  men, 
That  for  the  lust  off  a  body 

Wes  set  all  in  tyll  jwperdy.  600 

And  offt  in  tyll  gret  dowt  off  dede, 
[And]  all  dyspayrid  off  remed ; 
For  as  thai  throuch  the  land  past, 
The  Sytykys  handlyd  thame  sa  fast, 


CH.  vi.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  197 

Constayand  thame  on  ilk[a]  syde, 
That  nane  durst  fra  the  batayle  byd, 
That  the  Sytykys  mycht  oure-ta, 
F.  53.  b.     Than  thai  walde  thame,  but  rawnsone,  sla. 
And  swa,  be  syndry  juperdyis, 
Fourty  thousand  reknyd  twyis  610 

Darius  myssid  off  his  men, 
Wytht  juperdiis  that  slayne  ware  then, 
And  hym-self  all  prewaly 
Fled  off  the  kynrike  off  Sythy, 
For  drede  thai  suld  be[hynd]  hym  stek 
The  furdys,  and  [the]  bryggys  brek 
Off  Danoy,  that  gret  rywere, 
That  marchand  is  to  Sythy  nere ; 
And  off  the  skayth  that  he  had  tane, 
He  maid  bot  lytill  dule  or  mayne,  620 

And  thoucht  that  tynsall  was  bot  smalle 
For  to  rekyn  his  costys  all : 
Yhit  wes  he  noucht  off  litill  mycht, 
That  swa  mony  couth  gar  dycht, 
Apon  a  day  in  till  a  felde, 
Off  wycht  men  wapnys  for  to  welde, 
As  Darius  tynt  in  tyll  Sithy 
Throuch  his  hawtane  succuddry. 

Throucht  Asy  syne  he  past  onone 
Quhen  he  had  dantid  Macedone,  630 

Yonas  nere  by  the  se, 
Wytht  his  nawyiie  warrayde  he, 
And  the  Attenyens  hale 
Eas  to  ma  thame  suppowalle, 
For-thi  this  Darius  movid  his  were, 
Agaynis  thame  wytht  hale  powere  ; 
And  thai  thame  purwayd  off  diffens, 


THE  CKONYKIL  [B.  IV. 

And  mad  agayne  thame  resistens, 

And  wytht  thare  awyne  cumpany 

And  sowdyowrys  off  Spertany,  640 

Ellewyn  thousand  men,  but  mare, 

In  to  the  feld  assemblyd  ware 

Agayne  sex  hundyre  thousand  hale, 

Off  Perseys  ordanyd  for  batale ; 

In  to  that  fycht  Myltiades 

Off  Attenyens  [a]  chyfftane  wes. 

Bath  thai  ostys  swne  onone 

In  to  the  feld  off  Maratone 

Togyddyr  mellayd  hastily, 

Bot  off  thare  fychtyng  wes  ferly ;  650 

For  quha  that  nere  had  by  thaim  bene, 

Thai  mycht  the  ta  part  welle  hawe  sene 

In  batayle  derffly  men  slaand, 

The  tothyr  as  bestys  thare  deand ; 

Twa  hundyre  [thowsand]  Perseys  thare 

Slayne  in  the  feld  fundyn  ware. 

Darius  swa  thare  discumfyte 

Chasid  fled  till  his  schippys  tyte, 

And  wytht  his  nawyne  in  affray 

Wnslayne  echapyd  as  that  day  660 

In  tyll  hys  land  off  Pers,  and  thare 

Assemblyd  swne  [a]  gret  poware 

In  tyll  intent  for  tyll  have  bene 

Eevengyd  off  his  fayis  kene, 

Bot  in  hys  ost  he  deyd,  off  cas, 

And  swa  his  purpos  falyhyd  was. 


CH.  VIL]  OF  SCOTLAND.  199 


CHAP.   VII. 

(Ehapitm  tellt0  koto 
|8arm0  0xme,  Mocmrcfft 


£  OUEE  hundyre  yhere  sevynty  and  sewyn, 

Or  Mary  bare  the  Kyng  off  Hewyn, 

Quhen  Darius,  as  yhe  hard,  wes  dede, 

Hys  son  Cerces  [Xerxes]  in  his  stede  670 

In  Pers  succedyt  kyng  regnand, 

And  governyd  wytht  his  lauch  the  land, 

And  that  were  held  wpe  fyve  yhere, 

That  his  fadyr  in  Grece  gert  stere. 

In  tyll  his  ost  off  Perseys  then 

He  had  sevyn  hundyre  thousand  men, 

At  all  poynt  armyd  clenly  ; 

Thre  hundyre  thousand  he  had  by 

Off  wagyouris  armyd  at  all  rycht, 

In  to  thare  gere  all  flawmand  brycht  ;  680 

Twelff  hundyre  schyppys  gret  off  toure, 

And  off  les  thre  thousand  oure, 

Wyth  men  and  wytaile  thare  gert  he 

Be  stuffyd  welle,  and  layd  to  se  ; 

His  gret  ost  swa  assemblid  thare 

Dowtyd  gyff  ony  wattrys  ware, 

Off  sic  abowndans,  and  sic  plente, 

That  to  thame  all  thare  drynk  mycht  be, 

Or  to  thare  bataylle  for  to  pas, 

Ony  erde  to  large  was,  690 

Or  tyll  thare  nawyne  ony  se 

Mycht  rowme  enuch  or  large  be, 


200  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  IV. 

Sic  ane  ost  yhe  may  welle  trow 
Is  were  for  to  be  gaddyrt  nowe 
Than  it  was  than,  for  to  supprys 
Be  batayle  or  be  juperdyis. 

Off  Spartany,  Leonydes 
Kyng  and  lord  in  that  tyme  wes, 
He  wytht  aucht  thousand  men  that  quhylle 
Bade  in  the  straytis  off  Termopylle.  700 

Quhen  Cerces  thare-off  hade  tythyng 
In  tyll  dispyt  and  pure  hething, 
That  sa  few  for  thare  defens 
Durst  mak  agayne  hym  resistens, 
He  gert  aray  his  gret  batayle, 
In  purpos  thaim  for  tyll  assayle ; 
Bot  thaim  he  sped  before  onone 
That  in  the  feld  off  Maratone 
In  tyll  his  fadyre  tyme  had  bene, 
And  thare  thaire  frendys  slayne  had  seiie,          710 
F.  54.  b.     For  tyll  assayle  thare  inymys 

Wyth  batayll,  or  wytht  juperdyis. 

Off  tha  schortly  for  to  tell, 
As  in  the  fycht  the  fortoune  felle  ; 
The  begynnyng  thai  ware  hale, 
And  off  that  fycht  the  fyrst  tynsalle. 
'Syne  the  grete  ost  wytht  Cerces. 
Sone  to  the  baytell  cummyn  wes, 
And  wmbeset  on  ilk[a]  syde 

The  Spartanys  and  Leonyde.  720 

Than  ras  the  fycht  bath  fers  and  felle, 
And  all  the  batail  rycht  cruelle, 
Thare  men  mycht  here  bot  dusche  for  dusch, 
Eappys  royd  wytht  mony  a  rusch, 
Mony  a  penowne,  mony  a  spere, 


CH.  VIL]  OF  SCOTLAND.  201 

To  rewyn,  and  all  to  fraschyd  were. 

On  basnetys,  schynand  brycht, 

Men  mycht  se  pollaxis  lycht, 

Thare  morel  bayard,  dun  and  gray, 

Wyth  wowndys  flyngand  ran  away.  730 

In  to  sic  pres,  wytht-owtyn  dowt, 

The  fychtyng  thre  day  is  lestyd  owt, 

But  trew  takyn,  or  departyng, 

Or  ony  kyn  othire  ameyssyng, 

That  nane  off  bak  the  flycht  mycht  ta, 

Na  nane  mycht  pas  to  purches  ma. 

Thai  war  in  to  that  fycht  so  thyke 

That  nane  had  nymbilnes  to  stryke, 

And  [sa]  for-tyryd  in  to  that  thrawe, 

That  quheyne  had  cume  his  eynde  to  drawe,         740 

Off  slayne  bodyis  fundyn  thare, 

Hepys  hey  wpstandand  ware. 

That  quha  that  had  thame  that  tyme  sene 

Wald  noucht  have  trowid  at  thai  had  bene 

Twa  bataillis  off  sere  natyownys, 

As  happynys  betwene  regyownys, 

Bot  off  all  kyn  natyoune, 

Pestilens,  or  ded  felowne. 

The  ferd  day  quhen  Leonyda 
Swa  wyth  his  fay  is  he  [wes]  set  sa  750 

He  callyd  till  hym  his  wageoures, 
His  freyndis,  and  his  sowdeoures, 
Out  off  the  pres  off  the  bataylle 
And  sayd,  "  I  gyve  yowe  for  counsaille, 
That  yhe  remowe  owt  off  the  fycht 
And  drawis  youe  till  yhone  hill  on  hicht, 
Youe  to  refresche  and  ta  the  ayre, 
And  at  owre  nede  syne  yhe  repayre 


202  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  IV. 

Fra  that  yhe  refreschyd  be, 

For  bettyr  yhit  I  thynk  to  se ;  760 

And  I  wyll  wytht  my  Spartaneys 
Prowe  sum  othir  juperdyis ; 
Suppos  I  happyn  to  be  slayne, 
And  for  to  de  in  to  the  payne, 
For  it  is  myn  honest  det 
F.  55.        For  my  land  my  lyff  to  set, 
And  off  my-self  to  be  rekles, 
Quhyll  I  have  gottyn  my  land  in  pes ; 
Na  I  prys,  na  payne  apere 

Myn  honowre  and  my  land  to  were.  770 

For-thi,  to  yhow  my  falowys  hale 
Now  I  gywe  for  playne  consayle, 
That  in  lang  home  yhe  hovyr  noucht, 
Bot  on  youre  wyrschye  set  yhoure  thoucht, 
And  set  yhoure  lyff  in  juperdy, 
For  tyll  supprys  youre  inymy ; 
Na  biddis  noucht  the  dayis  lycht, 
Na  yhoure  fays  quhill  thai  be  dycht ; 
Bot  on  the  nycht  gywe  we  can  se 
That  the  hape  mycht  owrys  be,  780 

Wytht-in  thaire  tentis  quhar  thai  ly 
Cum  we  on  thame  [than]  suddanly, 
For  swa  slepand  best  we  may 
Put  tham  in  sa  hard  assay 
That,  but  perell,  ma  sail  de 
Than  sail  be  boune  to  fycht  or  fle, 
And  oure  renowne  may  nevyre  be 
Commendyde  off  mare  honeste 
Than  to  be  fundyn  togyddyr  all, 
How  sa  ewyr  the  fortowne  falle,  790 

Amang  oure  fays  wytht-in  thare  tentis, 


CH.  vii.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  203 

Thaire  pavilyhownys,  or  thare  buschementis  ; 

For  honowr  awis  ws  till  assaille, 

And  awenture  may  offt  awaille 

And  prowes  pynys  all  perelle, 

And  efftyr  hope  hape  hapnys  quhille. 

Than  swa  sail  gret  oppynyowriys 

Mak  for  ws  excusatyownys, 

And  we  sail  sawffyd  be  fra  blame, 

And  sail  welle  defend  oure  fame."  800 

To  this  thai  assentyd  hale, 
And  wrocht  all  eftyre  his  consaille, 
And  gert  thaire  spyis  tak  gud  kepe, 
Quhen  that  the  Perseys  fell  on  slepe 
Wytht-in  thare  tentis  quhare  thai  lay. 
To  this  schortly  for  to  say 
Leonyde  wytht  his  company 
Come  on  the  Perseys  suddanly, 
Quhen  thai  ware  sadly  fallyn  on  slepe, 
And  stekyd  thame  as  thai  ware  schepe,  810 

That  sum  wytht  wowndys  waknyd  ware, 
And  sum  thare  gaspand  granyd  sare, 
**          And  sum  thare  stekyd  stakarand  stud, 
And  sum  lay  bullyrrand  in  thaire  blude, 
All  thus  in  wodnes  as  thai  waveryd 
And  stekyd  swa  wyth  stokis  staveryd, 
F.  55.  b.      The  Perseyis  ilk  an  e  stekyd  othire, 
Sparand  nothire  fadyre  na  brodyre ; 
For  thai  war  off  sic  multitude, 
And  swa  thyk  togyddyr  stude,  820 

That  nane  mycht  mys  quhare  he  wald  myut, 
Tha  nane  to  dede  gave  doubill  dynt, 
And  mony  smoryd  losyde  the  lyff, 
Wyth-outyn  strak  off  swerde  or  knyff. 


204  THE  CPtONYKIL  [B.  IV. 

The  Spartanys  wyth-outyn  chas 

Thare  fays  all  wencust  in  that  plas, 

For  fra  the  glomyng  off  the  nycht 

Till  on  the  morne,  quhill  day  wes  lycht, 

And  ane  howre  wes  eftyre  none 

Gane  fully,  or  the  fycht  was  done.  830 

Quhen  that  the  Kyng  off  Pers  was  soucht 
And  fundyn  in  the  feld  wes  noucht. 
Sex  hundyr  thousand  Perseys  thare, 
In  to  that  felde  dede  fundyn  ware, 
Discumfyde  in  that  juperdy 
Wytht  sex  hundyr  anyrly 
Off  Spartanys,  that  in  that  tyde 
To  batell  come  wyth  Leonyde, 
That  slayne  in  to  that  batell  wes. 
Thus  discumfyt  wes  Cerces,  840 

And  as  on  nede  than  hym  behuwyd, 
Till  his  schippis  he  hym  remuvyde, 
And  wytht  his  nawyne  than  thoucht  he 
That  all  Grece  suld  dystroyid  be. 

In  to  that  tyme  Temystocles 
Off  the  Attenyens  chyfftane  wes, 
The  Yonyis  quhen  he  saw  hale 
In  tyll  Cerces  suppowalle, 
And  had  his  not  in  governyng, 
Syne,  for  thare  caus,  off  Pers  the  kyng,  850 

Darius,  the  fadyre  off  this  Cerces. 
Agayne  Atenys  mowid  wes, 
Sa  thai  ware  caus  pryncipalle 
Off  all  this  were,  and  this  batale, 
For  hale  the  Atteneys 
Wytht  [the]  Yonyis,  in  thare  defens, 
Agayne  Darius  ras  off  were, 


CH.  vii.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  205 

Quharefore  he  mowyd  his  powere 
Agayne  the  Atteneys, 

That  mayd  sa  manly  resistens,  860 

Quhill  in  Maratone  on  a  day 
Slayne  twa  hundyr  thousand  lay. 
Thare  chyfftane  this  Temystocles, 
That  saw  how  all  this  cummyn  wes, 
Set  hale  his  slycht  and  his  quentis 
For  to  trete  wytht  thir  Yonyis. 
For  hym  worthyt  to  forbere, 
As  oys  is  amang  men  off  were, 
Entyrconmnyng  in[til  a]  bille, 
He  wrate  his  consale  and  his  wille,  870 

And  said,  "  Me  thynk  yhe  ar  to  blame, 
F.  56.       That  negligent  ar  off  yhoure  fame, 

Set  yhe  wyll  wyth  yhoure  conscience, 

Ay  for  yhoure  statis  ma  defence. 

Yhit  it  is  gret  crualte 

Eekles  off  yhoure  fame  to  be, 

For  hououre  tholys  coufusyowne, 

And  revery  rewys  thare  resowne, 

And  wyt  wytht  wyle  thare  yhe  supprys 

And  honeste*  defowlyt  lyis.  880 

Off  kyndnes  tharefor  set  yhoure  thoucht, 

And  thynk  for  yhowe  quhat  we  hawe  wroucht 

In  Maratone,  apon  a  day, 

Quhar  slayne  twa  hundyre  thousand  lay, 

And  how  oure  frendys  off  Spartany, 

For  yhoure  caus  hallyly, 

In  till  oure  suppowale  ras, 

And  how  thaire  kyng  Leonidas 

Now  in  to  this  later  fycht, 

Sex  hundyr  thousand  on  a  nycht  890 


206  THE  CRONYKIL  [B.  IV. 

Wytht  sex  hundyre  men  has  slayne. 
In  till  gret  pres,  thrang,  and  payne, 
And  Leonyde  alsua  slayne  wes  thare, 
That  Spartane  rew  may  evermare. 

And  nowe  the  kyng  ofif  Pers,  Cerces, 
That  fra  that  fycht  echapyt  wes 
In  till  yhoure  gret  not,  apon  Se, 
All  affrayid  has  .tane  entre", 
For-thi,  yhe  qwyt  ws  this  kyndnes, 
That  quhen  yhe  se  ws  set  in  pres,  900 

And  owt  off  hawyn  yhoure  schyppis  be 
Yhe  change  luffe,  and  turne  to  Se, 
And  lat  ws  wyth  oure  fayis  fycht 
Quhill  that  oure  goddys  dele  the  rycht." 
This  was  his  consaille  and  his  wylle, 
And  he  gert  wryt  and  clos  in  bile, 
And  till  a  stane  that  wes  nere  by, 
Quhare  that  he  wyst  rycht  werraly 
The  Yonyis  wald  swne  arrywe, 
He  gert  it  festnyde  be  belywe.  910 

The  Amerale  swne  land  has  tane 
And  saw  this  bill  wpon  the  stane, 
Era  he  it  red,  he  wyst  it  wes 
The  cownsalle  off  Temystocles. 
In  hast  his  erand  all  dyde  he, 
And  sped  hym  sone  syne  to  the  se ; 
Temystocles  yhit  thare  abade 
And  off  thaire  schyppys  wonnyn  had, 
And  lay  arayid  wytht  his  ost, 
Ay  purvayde  for  to  kepe  the  cost.  920 

Artymodor,  than  lady 
And  queyne  off  Halycarnasy, 
In  the  suppowale  off  Cerces, 


CH.VII.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  207 

Brak  on  this  Teraystocles 
Owt  off  hyr  buschement  quhare  scho  lay, 
F.  56.  b.      And  made  rycht  stout  and  hard  assay, 
And  wyrschype  prowyde,  and  manhade, 
Amang  the  cheffe  off  his  knychthade. 
Thare  woman  wyle  in  wyt  off  man, 
And  manhade  turnyd  in  woman.  930 

For  thare  off  newe  scho  rasyt  the  fycht 
Quhare  mony  dowre  to  dede  wes  dycht ; 
The  wyctory  yhit,  nevertheles, 
Fell  all  to  Temystocles, 
For  thare  slayne  wes  that  lady, 
And  nere  all  hale  hyr  company, 
That  lypnyd  all  that  Cerces  kyng 
Suld  land  have  tane  in  thaire  helpyng, 
Wytht  all  the  ost  off  his  nawyne : 
Bot,  be  the  consalle,  and  kuvine,  940 

And  queyntyse  off  Temystocles, 
All  othire  wayis  thare  fortowne  wes  ; 
For  all  the  Yonyis  rycht, 
As  thai  the  fors  saw  off  the  fycht, 
Turnyd  the  luff,  and  tuk  the  Se ; 
Than  Cerces  in  perplexit^ 
Wes  hard  set,  and  his  nawyne 
Come  noucht  yhit  al  till  esy  syne, 
For  as  fraward  stormys  stude 
Mony  drownyd  in  the  nude,  950 

And  mony  etchepyd  for  radnes, 
Fra  that  the  kyng  anoyid  wes, 
And  mony  als  wes  tane  off  were 
Wyth  the  Attenyens  and  thare  powere. 
Than  off  Pers,  Mardonius, 
That  saw  his  kyng  reboytid  thus, 


208  THE  CRONYKIL  [B.  IV. 

Till  hym  said,  "  I  rede  that  yhe 

Set  yhowe  for  yhoure  sauffte, 

For  here  we  thole  now  sa  gret  schame, 

That  I  dowt  ware  to  fynd  at  harae,  960 

And  or  it  swa  suld  hapyn  thare, 

In  till  yhoure  land  I  wald  yhe  ware, 

Levand  all  yhoure  ost  wyth  me, 

And  swa,  how-evyr  oure  fortowne  be, 

I  sail,  apon  sik  awyis, 

Hald  off  were  oure  inymyis, 

That  we  sail  welle  excus  oure  name, 

And  yhe  sail  sauffe  be  fra  defame." 

To  the  counsalle  off  Mardone 
Cerces  trowyd  sone  onone,  970 

And  delyveryd  hym  his  men, 
And  made  hym  oure  thame  all  cheften. 
Thare,  that  kyng  that  fyrst  gert  byg, 
Wytht  schyppys,  oure  the  flud  a  brige 
Wyth  [fewe  than]  off  his  cumpany, 
Away  than  lurkyd  prewaly, 
In  till  a  litill  fysch  scowte 
For  pres  that  he  wes  in,  and  dowte, 
And  wyntyr  weddrys  felle  and  grete 
Lowsyd  all  his  bryg  off  threte  980 

And  off  the  serwys  off  a  man 
F.  57.       Off  neyde  he  held  hym  payid  than, 
Quhare  befor  he  gert  the  se 
For  his  schyppys  lowrand  be, 
For  fawte  off  rowrne  his  mekyll  mycht 
Kest  down  hillys  hey  on  hycht, 
And  wyth  the  waleis  evyn  thai  made 
To  schawe  his  ost  quhare  that  thai  raide, 
To  scant  all  rynnand  ryverys  were 


CH.  VIL]  OF  SCOTLAND.  209 

For  to  be  drynk  till  his  powere.  990 

All  kynd  off  thyng  than  falyhyde  hym  nere, 

As  infortowne  maid  hym  off  stere, 

All  his  futrnen  and  archerys, 

That  lypnyd  ware  to  thaire  lederys, 

For  dowte  hungyr  and  trawaylle, 

Begowth  fayntly  for  to  faylle 

And  bolne,  quhyll  at  the  last,  the  dede 

Consumyd  thame  wyth-owt  remede. 

All  the  landys  as  thai  lay 

Mycht  na  man  nere  thame  pas  the  way,  1000 

Than  for  to  bryst  than  wald  thai  thynke, 

The  ayre  sa  fell  was  off  the  stynk ; 

The  fowlis  wyld  and  bestis  fell 

That  couth  off  karyowne  fele  the  smelle, 

That  fey  court  ay  folowyd  nere, 

Quhill  deand  at  thai  fallyn  were, 

And  off  thare  fleysch  wald  fill  thame  thare, 

Or  fullily  all  dede  thai  ware. 

Quhen  Cerses  thus  to  Mardone  gave 

Off  his  ost  aU  hale  the  lawe  1010 

That  remanyd  hale  wnslayne, 

His  [emys]  sone  mad  hym  sa  fayne 

That  he  hym  put  in  pres  sa  fast, 

Quhill  he  defowlyde  wes  at  the  last. 

The  Grekis  mony  discumfyte, 

And  wan  the  castell  off  Olmyte, 

And  the  Attenyens  besyly 

He  tretyde  wyth  his  industry, 

And  led  thame  in  to  hope  off  pes, 

Quhill  that  he  sawe  thare  fredowme  wres  1020 

Off  sic  mycht,  and  sic  powere, 

That  wonnyn  thai  mycht  be  noucht  off  were. 

VOL.  I.  0 


210  THE  CRONYKIL  [B.  IV. 

Off  thare  cyte*  than  in  ire 
A  gret  part  he  brynt  in  fyre. 
In  Boecy  wytht  his  powere 
He  past  syne,  as  man  off  were, 
Off  Grekis  ane  hundyre  thousand  hale 
All  welle  arayid  for  batelle, 
Folowyd  forsly  this  Mardone 
And  gawe  hym  batale  swne  onone  1030 

And  wytht  hym  faucht  in  fycht  sa  fast 
Quhill  thai  hym  wencust  at  the  last, 
And  all  his  ost  thare  nere  was  slayne ; 
Wnese  hym-selff  wyth  mekyll  payne, 
Etchapyde  owt  off  that  melle" 
F.  57.  h.        All  nakyd,  wytht  a  few  menyhe, 
In  swate  all  drawkyd,  as  thai  were 
Ane  awlde  schypbrokyn  marynere. 
Hys  pavilyhownys  and  his  tentys  wes 
Stuffyd  welle  wytht  gret  ryches  1040 

Off  the  kyngis  tresowre  hale, 
And  othir  that  [dede]  wes  in  the  bataylle 
Left  gold  and  jowelys  in  copy, 
And  als  wyth  othir  industry. 
The  kyng  Cerses  tresoure  wan 
Fra  that  fyrst  the  were  began 
Tyll  that  day  that  he  fled,  for-dowte, 
In  till  a  litill  fyschare  scowte. 
All  this  Mardone  had  that  day, 
That  fra  the  fycht  [he]  fled  away.  1050 

This  tresoure  all  the  Grekis  gat 
And  delt  it  amang  thame  eftyre  that ; 
Swa  throuch  the  partyng  off  that  pray, 
And  the  tresoure  delt  that  day, 
The  gold  off  Pers  in  sic  copy 


CH.  VIL]  OF  SCOTLAND.  211 

Wes  the  confusiowne  halily 

Off  all  Grece,  that  before  that  day 

Governyd  thame  wytht  wertu  ay. 

And  that  day  Mardonyus 

In  Boecy  wes  wencust  thus,  1060 

A  gret  part  off  the  ost  of  Pers, 

In  Asy,  as  I  herd  rehers, 

Wes  discumfyt  wpon  [the]  Se, 

And  put  till  hard  perplexyte. 

Here-eftyr  quhen  the  kyng  Cerses 
In  till  his  awyn  land  cummyn  wes, 
Sa  ille  commendyt  thare  was  he, 
And  lakyde  all  wytht  his  menyhe, 
That  schortly  thare,  the  suth  to  say, 
In  tyll  hys  halle,  apon  a  day,  1070 

The  burdys  wndyr  clathis  sete, 
And  wyschyn  he  had  to  ga  to  mete, 
Hys  stwart  maid  on  hym  a  schote, 
And  tyte  hym  dowrly  be  the  throte, 
And  wyth  a  knyff,  wp  to  the  hefft, 
He  steykyd  hym  quhyll  the  lyff  he  lefft. 
This  wes  the  endyng  off  Cerses, 
In  all  tyme  that  wnhappy  wes. 
As  Oros  quhille,  the  clerk  sa  fyne, 
Wrat  till  his  mastyre  Saynt  Awstyne,  1080 

Wndyre  thire  kyngis  thre  off  Pers, 
The  quhilkis  yhe  herd  me  last  rehers, 
Eeknyd  wes  off  dede  bodyis 
A  hundyre  thousand  nynty  syis, 
All  off  Perseis  slayne  downe, 
And  off  nane  othire  natyowne. 

Quhen  Cerses  wes  endyt  thus 
His  swne  succedyt,  Daryus, 


212  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  IV. 

The  quhilk  in  Alexandrys  dayis 
Endyt,  as  the  story  sayis.  1090 

F.  58.         Nowe  off  my  purpos  to  mak  ende, 
Off  Pers  the  storys  I  suspend. 


CHAP.  VIII. 

In  thi0  (Hhapitere  j)he  0all  here, 

ten  the  <Sc0tti0  beset  be  f)eg£hti0  toere. 


F 


OUR  hundyr  vyntyr  and  fyfty  1093 

And  twa  to  rekyn  oure  evynlykly 
Befor  the  [blest]  Natyvyte", 
Oute  off  Athenys  that  cyte" 
To  Eome  the  Lawis  broucht  ware  then 
Wryttyn  in  till  Tablis  ten. 
The  Eomanys  yhit  eftyre  tha 


Cotton, F.  37.  b.  CHAP.    VIII. 

[From  MSS.  C.,  E.  L,  etc.] 


next  Chapter  £0l0toanie  hcgre, 

r0tti0  anb     e£hti0  iuere. 


F 


OUE  hundyr  wyntyr  and  fourty  f!093 

And  twa,  to  rekkyn  ewynly, 
Befor  the  blest  Natywite, 
Out  of  Athenys  that  cit4 
To  Eome  the  Lawis  broucht  war  then 
Wryttyn  in  to  Tabillis  ten, 
The  Eomanys  yhit  eftyr  tha 


CH.  VIIL]  OF  SCOTLAND.  213 

To  thame  ekyd  Tablis  twa.  1 1 00 

As  in  oure  storys  wryttyn  is, 
Than  in  Scotland  the  Scottis 
Begouth  to  renge,  and  to  stere, 
Twa  hundyr  full  and  fourty  yhere 
Fyve  wyntyr  and  monethis  thre, 
Gyve  that  all  suld  rekynd  be, 
Or  the  Peychtis  in  Scotland 
Come,  and  in  it  wes  duelland. 

And  now  to  thai  I  turne  my  stille, 
Off  thare  lynage  to  spek  a  quhille,  1110 

As  in  the  Thryd  Buke  wes  before, 
Era  Symon-Brek  tyll  Fergus-More, 
Is,  as  the  Scottis  lynyaly 
Come  downe  off  Yrschery. 
Quhare  than  I  lefft,  nowe  to  begyn, 
Thare  narnys  here  I  will  tak  in. 


To  thaim  ekyt  Tabillis  twa.  f  1 1 00 

As  in  oure  story  wryttyn  is, 

Than  in  Scotlande  the  Scottys 

Begouthe  to  regne,  and  to  stere, 

Twa  hundyr  fully  and  fourty  yhere 

Fyve  wyntyr  and  monethis  thre, 

Giff  that  al  sulde  reknyt  be, 

Or  the  Peychtis  in  Scotlande 

Coyme,  and  in  it  was  regnande. 

Bot  I  wil  noucht  tell  yow  thar  nayme, 
Thar  condiscion,  na  thar  fayme,  f  1 1 10 

For  possibile  supposse  it  be, 
Difficile  yit  it  is  to  me 
To  tel  thar  namys  distynctly 


214  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  IV. 

He  that  wes  callyd  Fergus-More, 
In  the  Thrid  Buke  yhe  hard  before, 
Wes  Fergus-Erthswne,  that  thre  yhere 
Made  hym  beyhond  the  Drwm  to  stere,  1120 

Oure  all  the  hychtis  evyrilkane, 
As  thai  ly  fra  Drwmalbane 
Tyll  Stanmore  and  Inchegall, 
Kyng  he  mad  hym  oure  thaim  all. 

Dongart  his  swn  yheris  fyve 
Wes  till  his  fadyre  successywe. 

Congal,  Dongarddis  swne,  twenty  yhere 
And  twa  wes  kyng  wytht-owtyn  were. 

Gowran,  Dongarddis  swne,  allswa 
Eegnyd  twenty  yhere  and  twa.  1130 

Conal  nest  hym  Makcongall 


Or  al  thar  greis  severelly 

That  befor  the  Peychtis  rasse  ; 

For  as  our  story  mencion  mays 

Fergus  Erschson  the  fyrst  man 

Was  that  in  our  laude  began, 

Befor  that  tyme  that  the  Peychtis 

Our  kynrik  wan  fra  the  Scottis,  -f- 1 1 20 

And  syne  tha  Peychtis  regnande  were 

A  thousande  ane  and  sexty  yhere. 

And  fra  this  Fergus,  doun  be  lyne 
Discendande  ewyn,  was  Makalpyn 
Kenyaucht,  that  was  audit  hundyr  yhere 
And  thre  and  fourty  passit  cleyr 
Eftyr  the  blest  JSTatywite 
Or  regnande  he  begouythe  to  be 
Fra  the  Peychtis  was  put  out. 


CH.  vm.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  215 

Fourtene  yhere  held  thai  landis  all. 

Thretty  wyntyr  and  foure  than 
Edan  regnyd  Makgowran. 

Hecgedbwd  sex  yhere  and  ten 
Kyng  wes  in  tha  landis  then. 

[KJynachker  Makcolnal 
Thre  moneth  held  thai  landis  all. 

Ferchar  Makcowny  sextene  yhere 
As  kyng  couth  all  thai  landis  stere.  1140 

Downald  Brec  son  [of]  Hecgedbowde, 
Kyng  wes  fourtene  wyntyr  prowde. 
F.  58.  b.  And  eftyre  that  his  dayis  wes  dwn, 

Maldowny,  Dolnawde  Downyswne, 
Sextene  wyntyr  kyng  wes  hale. 

And  nest  hym  tuk  that  governale 
Ferchar-Fodys  sone,  and  was  than 


The  tende  man,  wyth-outtyn  dout,  f  1130 

Was  Keynauche  Makalpyne 
Fra  this  Fergus  ewyn  be  lyne, 
And  sa  thir  ten  sulde  occupy, 
Gif  al  war  reknyt,  fullely 
Twelf  hundyr  wynter,  and  weil  ma, 
Bot  I  can  noucht  consaif  it  swa 
Bot  that  this  Fergus  was  regnande 
Wyth  the  Peychtis  in  Scotlande, 
And  tha  ten  that  regnande  were 
Eftyr  this  Fergus,  yhere  be  yhere,  f  1140 

As  thai  that  the  Cornykill  wrate, 
In  til  nowmyr  set  the  date, 
Amang  the  Peychtis  was  regnande 
Wyth-in  the  Kynrik  of  Scotland, 


216  THE  CRONYKIL  [B.  IV. 

Twenty  wynter  kyng  and  ane. 

Hecgede-Monavele-Makdongat 
Downad-Brec  sone  eftyre  that  1150 

Regnyd  twelfe  yhere  fullyly. 

Her  I  suspende  this  Geneology ; 
Bot  I  wyll  spek  mare  thareoff  swne, 
Quhen  all  the  lawe  till  it  is  dwne. 


And  liffit  in  bargan  and  in  were 
Qwhil  Kenya  ch  rase  with  his  powere. 

Gif  othir,  of  mare  sufficians, 
Can  fynde  bettyr  accordance, 
This  buk  at  likyn  thai  may  mende, 
Bot  I  now  schortly,  to  mak  ende,  *f*  1150 

Thynkis  for  to  set  thar  date, 
As  Cornykleris  befor  me  wrate, 
And  kest  and  reknyt,  yhere  be  yhere, 
As  the  Peychtis  regnande  were, 
And  thar  dait  sa  set  I  wil 
Qwhen  the  processe  is  lede  thartil. 


CHAP.    IX. 


(Df  JJrjmnjjtos  n0to  0rhaU  ghe  here 
in  to  this  (Ehzqpitere. 


OUEE  hundyr  thretty  yhere  and  sewyn 
Or  Mary  bare  the  Kyng  off  Hewyn, 
The  Vegentys  all  war  wonnyn  qwyte, 
And  throucht  the  Romaynys  discumfyte. 
Than  Brynnyus  wytht  the  men  of  Sauns, 


CH.  ix.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  217 

That  is  a  lordschipe  gret  in  Frauns,  1160 

All  Borne  off  were  nere  wonnyn  had, 

Na  had  bene,  that  a  gannyr  made 

Sa  hwge  crakyng  and  sic  cry, 

That  the  Eomanys  suddanly 

Waknyd,  quhare  thai  slepand  lay : 

All  the  cyte*  than  fand  thai 

Wytht  thare  fays  nere  wptane, 

T<->  sauffe  the  Capitole  allane. 

And  that  yhet  Brennyus  wonnyn  had, 

Had  noucht  that  gus  sic  crakyng  mad,  1 170 

That  waknyd  the  wachis  suddanly, 

And  warnyd  the  Eomanys  hastily. 

This  Brennyus  and  Belyne 
Bredyre  ware,  and  knychtis  syne : 
Off  thame  quha  will  the  certane  hawe, 
How  that  thai  for  Bretane  strawe 
Ilkane  wytht  othir,  and  -for  it  faucht ; 
And  how  thaire  modyre  made  thaim  saucht ; 
How  thai  wan  Frauns,  and  Lumbardy, 
Tuskane,  and  Eome  nere  halily ;  1 1 80 

How  Brennyus  syne  left  in  Tuskane, 
And  Belyne  come  hame  in  Bretane ; 
Thai  rede  the  Brwte,  and  thai  sail  se 
Ferlys  gret  off  thare  bownte*. 
Saynt  Awstyne  sayis  the  Eomanys  ware 
To  geys  dettyd  in  honowre  mare 
Than  to  thare  goddis  all,  that  slepyd, 
Quhen  geys  thame  wytht  thare  crakyng  kepyd. 


218  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  IV. 


CHAP.   X. 

(JDff  a  $**tiLeit0  that  tdl, 

Jtnb  htfto  in  Uxrm*  m*n  mgrht  0*  helle. 


F.  59.  J_  JJRE  hundyr  yhere  foure  score  and  sevyn 

Before  that  borne  wes  the  Kyng  off  Hewyn,     1  190 

In  to  the  stede  off  Consoles 

In  Eome  Tribuny  chosyn  wes. 

The  Eomanys  than  wan  a  cyte 

That  callyd  wes,  that  tyme,  Penestre, 

And  aucht  cyteis  than  off  were 

To  Eome  wes  maid  tributere. 

Grete  pestilens  in  to  tha  dayis 
In  Eome  fell,  as  Frere  Martyne  sayis  : 
Wytht-in  the  rnyddis  off  the  towne 
All  the  erd  than  opnyd  down,  1200 

Sa  wgsum  thare  that  opynnyng  fell 
That,  throuch  a  ryfft,  men  mycht  se  hell, 
And  off  the  stynk  come  off  that  stede 
Mony  wytht-in  the  towne  wes  dede. 
Wytht-in  the  cyte  wes  a  man 
That  callyd  be  name  wes  Martyne  than, 
He  till  his  goddis  mad  prayere 
To  gyff  hym  wyt,  on  quhat  manere 
And  how,  that  exalatyowne, 

That  made  sa  gret  infectiowne,  1210 

Mast  hastily  mycht  closyd  be, 
And  how  to  succoure  that  cyte" 
Mast  redy  helpe  war,  or  defens, 
For  that  fellowne  pestilens. 
V 


CH.  x.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  219 

Hys  goddys  hym  ansuerd,  at  the  last, 
And  bad  hym  gang,  and  arme  hym  fast, 
And  at  that  ryfft  lepe  evyn  down, 
Gyff  that  he  thoucht  to  sauff  the  towne. 
At  that  answere  he  yhed  swne, 
And  hastyly  as  thai  bad  has  dwne,  1220 

And  fra  he  downe  fell  in  that  gape, 
All  that  ryfft  togyddyre  crape ; 
And  sa  was  sauffyde  the  cyte" 
Fra  stynk  than,  and  mortality. 
Brennyus  yhit  all  tyme  then 
Warrayid,  wytht  the  Frankyis  men, 
The  Roinanys  in  to  thai  dayis, 
And,  as  Frer  Martyne  tharoff  sayis, 
A  Eomane  sawe  a  Frankys  man 
Abo wt  his  hals  thare  hawe  than,  1230 

Off  gold  thrawyn,  all  lyk  a  les ; 
This  Eomane  made  than  sic  purches, 
That  [aljanyrly  bot  thai  twa 
Togyddyr  suld  in  batalle  ga, 
And  on  na  wys  than  suld  thai  twyn 
Quhill  ane  mycht  the  tothir  wyn, 
Slayne  or  yhowdyn  in  batale, 
Wytht-owt  ony  [othir]  suppowale 
Off  ony  othir ;  as  it  fell  than, 
This  Eoman  slewe  the  Frankis  man,  1240 

And  fra  his  nek  in  tyll  that  place 
Tyt  away  that  goldyn  las, 
And  pwt  it  abowt  hys  awyn  hals ; 
Fra  thine  he,  and  his  lynage  als, 
In  to  Latyne  callid  were 
F.  59.  b.      Lasyd  Eomanys  mony  yhere. 


220  THE  CRONYKIL  [B.  IV. 


CHAP.  XL 


<SJtoh.en  JUgaattbgr*.  th.e  mgrhtj)  kgng, 
to  r0  anb  mak 


T 


HEE  hundyr  and  sex  and  twenty  yhere 
Before  the  byrth  off  oure  Lord  dere, 
Alysandyr  Phylippy, 

That  gotyn  was  on  Olympy,  1250 

Be  herytabill  successiowne, 
Begouth  [to]  regne  in  Macydowne, 
And  wes  bot  yheris  twelf  off  eelde 
Quhen  [he]  begouth  wapnys  to  weelde. 
And  regnand  lyvyd  bot  twelff  yhere 
Quhen  all  the  Oryent  he  wan  nere, 
And  hale  syne  set  his  intent 
Tyll  have  wonnyn  the  Occydent ; 
Bot  thareoff  falyhyd  he,  off  cas, 
In  Babylone  he  poysownyd  was.  1260 

Off  his  douchty  dedys  sere 
Contenyd  in  othir  bukis  eere ; 
Tharfore  in  this  Tretis  I 
Now  wyll  our-ga  thame  mar  lychtly. 

The  Romany  s  than  grewe  off  mycht, 
And  wes  in  dedys  stout  and  wycht ; 
The  Sampnytys  than,  that  in  mydway 
Betwene  Poyle  and  Chawmpayne  lay, 
And  in  to  swylk  abowndans  wes 
Off  sylvyr,  gold,  and  [of]  ryches,  1270 

That  all  the  armowris  that  thai  had 
Wes  off  gold  and  sylvyr  made ; 
Thir  Sampnytys  than  ras  all  hale 


CH.  XL]  OF  SCOTLAND.  221 

Agayne  [the]  Eomanys  in  batale, 
Bot  the  Sampnytys,  sone  and  tyte, 
Wes  wyth  the  Eomanys  discumfyte, 
And  eftyre  syne,  with  thare  powere, 
The  Romanys  discumfyt  were ; 
Bot  the  Romanys,  at  the  last, 
Wytht  the  Sampnytys  faucht  sa  fast,  1280 

That  foure  and  twenty  thousand  lay 
Slayne  in  the  feyld  apon  a  day, 
Off  the  Sampnytys,  and  thare  kyng 
Was  takyn  thaire  in  that  fechtyng. 
Thare  chymys  and  thare  cheffe  towne 
Than  to  the  grownd  wes  castyn  downe, 
Thare  was  na  fa  in  feyld  sa  felle 
Agayne  Rome  than,  na  sa  cruelle, 
As  wes  the  Sampnytys  in  tha  dayis, 
As  Oros  and  Frere  Martyne  sayis;  1290 

And  the  caus  wes  pryncipall 
Of  that  were,  and  off  that  batalle, 
That  for  [of]  Chawmpayne  all  the  land 
[Was]  in  profytis  all  hawbondand, 
And  esyly  set  to  the  se 
Wytht  hawynnys  gud  in  gret  plente ; 
Swa  that  alkyn  marchandyis 
Come  in  it  apone  syndry  wyis. 
F.  60.        Thare  cheffe  cyte,  off  gret  fame, 

Capuva  wes  callyd  be  name,  1300 

That  to  Cartage  or  to  Rome  wes 

Paryfyid  in  all  liklynes. 

Thir  landys  the  Romanys  thoucht 

Tyll  thare  oys  suld  ha  we  bene  broucht ; 

Thare-fore  fyrst  ras  all  this  were 

And  endyt  as  yhe  herd  langere. 


222  THE  CRONYKIL  [B.  IV. 


CHAR   XII. 


tta  ^mntiitb  hale 

the  Hiamangg  fltcrbpt  battall*. 

JL  HEE  hundyre  yhere  and  thrys  thre 

Befor  the  [blissit]  Natyvyte, 

The  Tarentynys  wytht  thare  powere, 

Agayne  the  Eomanys  ras  off  were  :  1310 

Thaire  messyngere  dyssatwysly 

Thai  defoulyde  wnhonestly, 

And  warnyst  thame  rycht  welle  wyth-oute 

Wytht  all  thare  marcharys  thame  abowte, 

And  send  for  Pyrrus  oure  the  Se, 

For  kyng  off  Grece  that  tyme  wes  he. 

He  broucht  wytht  hym  off  fwt  men 

Foure  schore  off  thousand  reknyd  then, 

And  sewyn  thousand  men  on  hors, 

Fayre  off  fassowne  and  off  cors,  1320 

And  elephantys  full  twenty, 

Quhare  nevyr  nane  in  Ytaly 

Wes  kend,  na  sene,  before  that  day. 

In  batale  sone,  the  suth  to  say, 

Thai  mellayicl  and  faucht  rycht  fast, 

The  Tarentynis  wes  at  the  last 

Hale  discumfyte  in  that  stede, 

Wytht  all  thare  ost  ;  than  Pyrrus  flede 

Wytht  mekyll  schame  attoure  the  se, 

In  till  his  land  wyth  his  menyhe.  1330 

Than  the  Tarentynis  hale 

Soucht  at  Cartage  suppowalle, 


CH.  xiii.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  223 

That  wes  the  cheffe  off  all  Affiyke, 

A  fayre  cyt4  nane  till  it  lyk, 

And  wes  before  Borne,  but  were, 

Byggyd  twa  hundyr  and  sevynty  yhere. 

Swa  thoucht  thai  to  defend  wyth  mycht, 

Fra  thame  off  Eome  wyth  all  thare  slycht, 

Cyzily  or  odyr  ylys  sere, 

That  in  the  Gret  Se  lyand  were.  1340 


CHAP.   XIII. 


qtolten  DangbaU  rjtohgte 
in  &zdl  Ibiscomffiit. 


.  WA  hundyr  yhere  and  sexty, 
And  nyne  to  rekyn  fullyly, 
Hanyball  the  eldare  yhude, 
Wytht  a  welle  gret  multitud 
Off  welle  arayid  and  armyd  men, 
F.  60.  b.        And  elephantis  tauld  thrys  tene  ; 

Wytht  thai  be  schype  he  tuk  the  Se, 

In  Cyzyly  swa  arrywyde  he. 

The  Eomanys  sone  gaddryd  ware, 

And  wytht  hym  faucht  in  batale  thare,  1350 

And  handlyd  hym  in  fecht  sa  fast 

That  thai  hym  wencust  at  the  last. 

Hys  elephantis  thare  thryis  ten 

Thai  tuk,  and  slewe  nere  all  [the]  men, 

And  his  nawyne  nere  tuk  thai 

That  scantly  wan  hym-self  away. 

Ane  than  off  the  consules, 

Attilius  that  called  wes, 


224  THE  CRONYKIL  [B.  IV. 

Tuk  wytht  hym  a  gret  multitude 

Off  men,  arayid  in  armys  gude,  1360 

And  passyd  wytht  that  ost  the  Se ; 

In  Cartage  sone  arywyde  he, 

And  foure  and  sevynty  cyteis  sere, 

And  all  that  in  thame  duelland  were, 

Throuch  all  Affryk,  as  he  rade, 

All  subjecte  thame  to  Rome  he  made. 

And  throuch  the  land  as  he  rad  swa 

Toward  the  wattyr  off  Bagrada, 

Off  sex  score  off  fute  he  fand 

Ane  eddyr,  lach  on  erd  crepand,  1370 

That  mony  off  hys  men  to  dede 

Had  slayue,  and  s welly de  in  that  stede. 

Wytht  that  eddyr  sa  he  wroucht, 

That  to  dede  [he]  sone  hyr  broucht, 

And  the  skyn  gert  fra  hyr  tyte, 

And  to  Rome  syne  he  send  it. 

Thai  off  Cartage  in  this  quhille 
Have  tretyde  walde  wytht  this  Attyle  ; 
That  he  refoysyd  wtrely 

For  caus  that  he  thoucht  halyly  1380 

For  till  hawe  wonnyn  thame  wyth  were, 
Set  all  thare  willys  had  bene  contrere. 
Than  thai  off  Cartage,  wytht  counsalle, 
The  Affrycanys  tuk  to  thame  hale, 
And  faucht  wytht  Attyle  and  his  ost, 
And  wencust  hym  for  all  his  bost. 
Thare  wytht  thame  off  Affryk  qwyte 
The  Romanys  wes  discumfyt, 
And  Attyle  Regule  thare  chyfftane 
Wes  yholdyn  and  as  presownere  tane,  1390 

And  to  Cartage,  in  presowne 


CH.  xiii.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  225 

Wes  send,  but  lypnyng  off  rawnsoune. 

In  Eome  than  Emilyus, 
And  his  falow  Fulvius, 
Than  off  that  towne  twa  consules, 
Era  thai  hard  how  this  hapnyd  wes, 
F.  61.         Thre  hundyr  schyppys  thai  gert  be 
Stuffyde  and  layd  to  the  se, 
In  Affryk  tyll  arywe  onane, 

For  to  reveng  that  thai  had  tane.  1 400 

The  Affrykanys  sone  in  hy 
Eecowntryd  thame  dispytwysly 
Wytht  schyppys  thre  hundyr ;  thare  agayne, 
On  the  Se  than  wes  the  Eomanys  slayne, 
And  thaire  nawyne  takyn  qwyte, 
And  all  thare  hale  ost  discumfyte. 


CHAP.    XIV. 

(Chapiter  [tellis]  that  a  flabe, 
the  Cste  ai' 


.  WA  hundyr  and  foure  score  off  yhere 
Befor  the  byrth  off  oure  Lord  dere, 
A  fell  subversyowne  and  suddayne 
Had  hale  the  Cyte"  nere  ouretane  ;  1410 

For  off  Tybere  the  rywere, 
Sa  retht  off  spate  wyth  watrys  sere 
Eas,  that  all  wytht-in  the  towne 
The  gret  byggynys  it  kest  downe 
Sa  qwytly  than,  that  men  wald  wene 
That  nevyr  byggyne  thare  had  bene. 
The  Frankis  men  in  to  that  tyde 
VOL.  i.  P 


226  THE  CROOTKIL  [B.  IV. 

Made  thame  off  newe  thare-for  to  ryde 

Agayne  the  Romanys,  bot  thai 

Eecowntryd  thame  in  gud  aray,  1420 

Sa  that  the  Frankis  men  qwyte 

Wes  wytht  Romanys  discumfyte. 


CHAP.    XV. 


Qtotan  Ipan^bal  the 

in  batale  !bi0rxrmfite. 


.  WA  hundyr  wyntyr  and  nynteyne 
Or  lychtare  wes  the  Madyne  cleyne, 
Hanyball  wyth  his  empyre, 
Off  Affryk  than  bath  lord  and  syre, 
Passyd  in  to  Spayne,  and  thare  a  towne, 
Famows  and  off  gret  renowne, 
Sagount  be  name,  assegyd  he, 
And  stratly  gert  it  kepyt  be  1430 

Fra  all  profyte  and  wytale 
Quhill  thai  wytht-in  begouth  to  fayle, 
Throueh  defawte  and  hungyr  sare, 
Sa  [that]  on  nede  thai  yholdyn  ware, 
And  delyvyrid  wes  the  towne 
And  he  till  erd  gert  cast  it  downe, 
For  caus  in  all  tyme  that  it 
To  Rome  wes  in  to  frendschepe  knyt. 
The  Romanys  off  thare  intent 

F.ei.b.        Tyll  Hanyball  gert  message  sent,  1440 

Bot  on  na-kyn  wys  wald  he 
Thaire  messyngerys  wytht  eyne  se, 
Nor  off  thaire  tythyngys  walde  he  here, 


CH.  xv.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  227 

Na  spere  quhar-wyth  thai  chargyde  were. 

In  Borne  that  tyme  Publius, 

Scypyon,  and  Symphronius, 

Chosyn  ware  thre  Consules, 

And  governand  thare  office  wes 

Quhen  Hanyball  wytht  his  powere 

Come  wyth  his  ost;  as  man  off  were,  1450 

Out  oure  the  hillys  off  Pyrreny, 

The  nerrast  way  in  Ytaly. 

Wyth  gret  trawaylle  as  he  past, 

In  Ytaly,  yhit  at  the  last, 

He  come  in  wyth  gret  were  and  payne, 

And  wyth  his  ost  thaire  tuk  the  playne, 

That  wes  fully  reknyd  then 

Ane  hundyr  thousand  off  fut-men, 

And  twenty  thousand  men  on  hors, 

Fayr  off  fassown  and  off  cors.  1460 

Scypio,  that  tyme  wes 
Ane  chosyne  off  the  Consules, 
In  to  that  playne  faucht  wyth  him  thare, 
And  woundyd  Hanyball  rycht  sare ; 
But  to  record  yhow  schortly, 
The  Eomanys  ware  halily, 
Wyth  the  Affricanys  qwyte 
In  that  batayle  discumfyte : 
Thare-eftyr  quhen  Symphronius 
Had  herd  that  it  had  hapnyd  thus,  1470 

Till  his  falowe  Scypion 
Wytht  his  ost  he  come  onone, 
Off  Sythy  wyth  his  falowis  all, 
And  faucht  rycht  fast  wyth  Hanyball, 
The  Eomanys  yhit,  nevyrtheles, 
In  that  batayle  discumfyte  wes, 


228  THE  CRONYKIL  [B.  IV. 

Swa  that  Symphron  wes  rycht  fayiie 
That  he  wan  fra  fecht  wnslayne 
Hym  allane,  wyth-outyn  ma, 
As  he  than  saw  the  fortoune  ga,  1480 

Quhen  all  [this]  wyctory  wes  done, 
This  Hanyball  wyth  his  ost  sone 
In  Tuskayne  passyd  wyth  gret  fayre, 
Wytht-iii  the  fyrst  moneth  off  wayre, 
And  furth  wyth  his  batyll  syne 
Toward  the  hyllys  off  Appennyne, 
Quhar  that  sa  thyk  the  snawe  felle, 
Wytht  haylstanys  bath  scharpe  and  snelle, 
That  all  his  elyphantis  thare, 
And  hors  and  catalle,  peryst  ware.  1490 

F.  62.          This  Hanyball  yhit,  nevyrtheles, 

Wyst  welle  that  Schir  Flamyne  wes, 

Quhen  all  the  Eomanys  ware  ourtane, 

Left  in  the  tentis  hym  allane, 

Hastyly  he  turnys  agayne 

Hym  till  have  [wyncust]  and  have  slayne  ; 

Bot  Flamyne  wytht  his  cumpany 

Recountryd  hym  rycht  stoutly, 

Bot  yhit,  throwch  frawde  off  Hanyballe, 

He  and  his  ost  wes  wencust  all,  1500 

Sa  that  off  the  Eomanys  hale 

Dede  and  slayne  in  that  batale 

Wes  fyve  and  twenty  thousand  thare, 

And  sex  thowsand  takyne  ware. 


CH.  XVL]  OF  SCOTLAND.  229 


CHAP.   XVI. 


thre  bxrUi*  off  tQUQW  torn 
Cartage  stub,  nato  j&chall  jjlu 


T 


WA  hundyr  yhere  ellewyn  and  ane 
Or  God  off  Mary  flesch  had  tane, 
In  Eome  Lucy  Mylyns, 
Paule,  and  alsua  Publius 
Tarentyne,  and  Warro  wes 

In  to  the  towne  maid  Consules,  1510 

And  till  a  cyte  callid  Canos 
Wyth-in  the  Poyle,  on  set  purpos 
The  Eoiuanys  send  thame  to  fecht 
Wyth  Hanyball  and  his  gret  mecht ; 
Off  Eomanys  in  [to]  batale  thare 
Foure  and  fourty  thousand  ware 
Eeknyd  and  slayne  wpon  that  grene ; 
Before  that  day  wes  nevyr  sene 
That  thai  off  Eome,  wyth  sic  dispyte, 
Wes  sa  haly  discumfyte ;  1520 

For  thare  wes  Emylius, 
And  his  falowe  callid  Paulus, 
That  for  the  grettest  that  tyme  wes 
Chosyn  to  be  Consules, 
And  off  the  Pretore  twenty  men, 
And  grettest  off  the  cownsale  then, 
And  off  the  senatowrys  thretty  thare, 
Slayne  in  that  fecht  or  takyn  ware. 
Off  gentyll  knychtis  than  off  fute, 
That  owsyd  nothyr  spure  na  bute,  1530 


230  THE  CRONYKIL  [B.  IV. 

Thre  hundyr  deyd  in  that  batale, 
And  fowrti  thousand  othir  hale 
Off  knychtis  armyd  wpon  liors, 
Fayre  off  fassowne  and  [of]  cors, 
Slayne  in  to  that  journe  wes. 

Than  ane  off  the  Consules, 
That  be  name  was  Warro  callyd, 
As  in  his  buk  Frer  Martyne  tallid, 
All  prewaly  owte  off  the  rowte 
Wytht  fyfty  men  on  hors,  for  dowte  1540 

Off  hys  lyff,  to  Wenys  flede 
For  to  be  tane  or  slayne  thai  drede. 
F.  62.  b.         To  [the]  Romanys  but  [ony]  wene 
This  the  lattast  day  had  bene, 
Gyve  Hanyball  in  tyll  all  hy, 
Quhen  done  was  all  the  wictory, 
Had  past  strawcht  wytht  his  menyhe, 
For  tyll  have  tane  wrp  the  cyte. 
In  takyn  off  that  wictory, 

Quhen  endyt  wes  this  juperdy.  1550 

Off  gold  rengys,  fayre  and  brycht, 
Tane  off  thare  fyngrys  slayne  in  that  fycht, 
Thre  moys  that  was  thre  bollys  mete, 
This  Hanyball  wytht-owtyn  lete 
To  Cartage  gert  in  hy  be  send, 
Quhen  that  this  jornay  had  tane  end. 

Thau  were  the  Romanys  sa  wa, 
And  for  this  cas  disparyd  swa, 
That  thai  maid  thame  haly  bowne 
For  tyll  have  fled  and  left  the  towue,  1560 

Na  hade  bene  Scypio  Affrycane, 
That  off  the  knychtis  wes  chyftane, 
Wyth  drawyn  swerd  than  held  thame  in, 


CH.  xvi.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  231 

And  thoucht  awantage  yhit  to  wyne. 

Off  cownsalle  than,  wyth-outyn  bade, 

Off  [the]  threllys  that  thai  hade, 

Bowcht  before  off  comowne  prys, 

Wyth-in  the  towne  to  mak  serwys, 

He  made  knychtis  in  that  nede, 

And  thaim  arayid  in  honest  wede,  1570 

And  armwrys,  that  halowyd  ware 

To  goddys  in  thaire  tempyllis  thare, 

Thai  tuk  in  that  necessyte, 

And  in  thai  gert  thame  armyd  be 

All  thai  threllys  evryilkane, 

For  that  ensawmpyll  had  thai  tane 

Be  counsale  off  ane  [Eun]yus, 

That  tauld  thame  how  that  Eomulus 

Off  murtheraris  he  kynchtis  made, 

And  thewys  that  he  in  presowne  hade,  1580 

And  mysdoarys  mony  ma, 

All  wnpunysyd  he  lete  ga 

In  fredome,  quhill  that  he  had  hale 

Sex  thousand  wycht  men  to  batale. 

The  Eomanys  be  this  counsall  sone 

The  lyk  manyr  has  all  done, 

Sa  Eome  before  disparyd  than 

Eespyre  in  to  gud  hope  began. 

Bot  yhit,  as  Orosius 

In  tyll  his  cornyklys  tellis  ws,  1590 

Quha  that  in  Eome  befor  had  bene, 

And  had  off  it  the  wyrschype  sene, 

He  wald  have  bene  all  rede  for  schaine, 

Fra  he  had  sene  thare  reale  fame 

Chawngyd,  [and]  thare  reawte, 

Than  turnyd  in  deformyte, 


232  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  IV. 

For  nane  thare  governale  than  had 
To  sauff  barnys  off  yhowthad, 
Threllys,  both  bownd  or  carle, 

F.  63.         That  oysyd  before  to  bere  and  harle  ;  1600 

And  suppos  thai  thai  war  soucht, 
And  all  in  tyll  hale  nowmyr  broucht, 
Yhit  war  thai  noucht  to  sicht  plesand, 
Na  in  tyll  all  poynt  sufficiand ; 
For  that  tyme  all  thaire  senatowrys 
That  chosyn  wes  to  thare  succowrys 
Behuwyd  to  be  in  thare  serwys 
Informyd  and  kend,  as  yhong  nowys. 


CHAP.   XVII. 


,  titrate  srhtftorgs  sndi, 
Wits  Itii'bt  0f  h0    m00  tdit. 


T 


WA  hundyr  yhere  and  twys  thre 
Befor  the  [blessit]  Natyvyte,  1610 

Hanybyll,  wytht  mekyll  bost, 
Off  Chawmpayne  mowyd  hale  liis  ost, 
And  thre  myle  wyth-out  the  towne  abade, 
And  tharefore  the  Romanys  nmrnyng  maid, 
And  all  the  senatowrys  ilkane 
Sa  wytht  radnes  wes  ouretane, 
And  owte  off  thare  [wit]  sa  qwyte, 
That  thai  ware,  but  pres,  discumfyte : 
Yhit  the  women  nevyrtheles 

Apon  the  wallis  besy  wes,  1620 

Layand  stanys  here  and  thare, 
Quhare  that  thai  thoucht  mast  lykly  ware 


CH.  XVIL]  OF  SCOTLAND.  233 

Thame  to  defend  in  tyme  off  were, 
Eftyr  as  thai  saw  thare  mystere. 
And  Hanyball  wyth  his  ost  syne 
Come  to  the  yhet  wes  callyd  Collyue  ; 
Thare  the  consule  Fulvyus 
Saw  that  he  wes  cummyn  thus, 
Gaddryd  all  the  Eomanys  hale 
For  tyll  have  gyvyn  thare  batale ;  1630 

And  as  thai  suld  have  sammyn  bene 
Togyddyre  runnyn  on  the  grene, 
Sa  gret  tempest  and  halestayne  wycht 
Fell  wyth  sik  fors  and  [wyth]  sic  pyth,' 
That  bathe  the  ostis  anoyid  wes  sare, 
Or  thai  wytht-in  thare  tentis  ware. 
Thus  fyrst  quhen  that  that  tempest  left, 
For  tyll  have  met  thai  trystyd  eft, 
The  neyst  tyme  that  thai  mycht  se 
A  day  set  in  serenyte,  1 640 

On  the  tyme  that  thai  that  sete, 
Bathe  hayle  and  tempest  were  thame  wete, 
That  wytht  mare  dowt  etchapyde  thai 
Than,  na  thai  dide  the  fyrst  day. 
Hanyball  be  that  welle  thoucht 
That  he  be  man  wes  lettyd  noucht 
To  wast  and  wndo  the  cyte, 
Bot  throucht  Goddys  gret  powste, 
Fra  Eome  than  he  remowyed  hale 
Hys  ost,  but  fandyng  off  batale.  1650 

Scypio  that  tyme  Affrikane 
Hade  sevyn  and  twenty  [wyrityr]  gane 
F.  63.  b.          Off  his  eyld,  and  than  he 

Was  prysit  a  man  off  gret  powste  ; 
He  passyde  in  to  Spayne  off  were 


234  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  IV. 

And  Cartage  newe  wyth  his  powere 

He  wan,  and  gat  thaire  gret  tresowre 

Gaddryde  lang  tyme  thare  befoure, 

Sylvyr  [and]  golde,  and  thare-off  he 

Payid  till  his  knychtys  large  fe,  1660 

And  thaire  he  tuk  Magon  wytht-all, 

That  brothire  wes  till  Hanyball, 

And  to  the  Eomanys  hym  send  he 

In  presowne  for  till  haldyn  be. 

Quhen  Scypio  wpon  this  wyis 

Had  done  in  Spayne  thir  wictoryis, 

In  till  Affryk  syne  he  past 

And  fell  in  fechtyng  thare  sa  fast 

Wytht  the  duk  off  Affryk  thare, 

That,  off  his  adversaris,  ware  1670 

Fourty  thowsand  slayne  and  dede, 

And  he,  wastand  fra  sted  to  sted, 

All  throucht  the  land  in  ryot  rad 

And  in  tyll  it  his  maystry  made, 

Na  nane  fra  hym  mycht  thame  defende. 

Than  thai  off  Cartage  sowne  gert  send 

Till  Hanyball,  and  bad  hym  spede 

Hym  hame,  and  help  thame  in  thare  iiede. 

On  gretyug  than  fell  Hanyball 

For  Ytaly  that  he  left  all,  1 680 

And  all  the  knychtys  that  thare  was 

Off  Ytaly,  and  wald  noucht  pas 

Wyth  hym  in  Affryk,  but  remede, 

He  slwe  and  gert  be  put  to  dede. 

Syne  to  Cartage  he  come  onone, 

And  thare,  quhen  he  sawe  Scypyon, 

Off  pes  to  trete  wes  all  his  thoucht, 

Bot  it  fell  thai  accordyd  noucht, 


CH.  xviii.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  235 

And  sa  behuwyd  thame  on  nede 

Thane  to  fecht  and  batalle  spede,  1690 

And  efftyre  lang  fechtyng  thare, 

Thai  off  Cartage  wencust  ware, 

And  Hanyball,  bot  wyth  foure  men 

On  hors,  but  ma,  wes  chapyd  then, 

And  fra  the  batale  gat  away 

Hys  lyff  [sa]  sawffyd  he  that  day. 

Thus  Scypyon  had  the  vyctory, 

And  wytht  his  ost  syne  halyly, 

Wan  off  Cartage  the  cyte, 

And  made  in  it  his  entre*.  1 700 


CHAP.   XVIII. 


qulutt  Qniiachns 
SEgth;  the  Iixrmant0  mafo*  angng. 


hundyre  wyntyr  and  sex  cure 
Or  Mary  bare  oure  Salwyoure, 
The  secund  batalle  Affrycane 
Was  all  done  and  end  had  tane, 
And  hastyly  son  eftyr  than 
F.  64.  The  were  off  Macedone  began, 

Quhen  that  Flamyne,  that  than  wes 

Ane  chosyne  off  the  Consules, 

Eftyr  mony  juperdyis, 

And  syndry  wonnyn  vyctory  is,  1710 

Grawntyt  pes  and  trwys  onone 

Tyll  Phylippe  kyug  off  Macedone, 

That  eftyre  Alexsawndyr  wes  dede 

Succedyd  kyng  in  tyll  his  stede 


236  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  IV. 

Ane  hundyre  wyntyr  and  twenty. 

The  captywys  than  halyly 

Off  the  Eomanys,  all 

Tane  before  wyth  Hanyball, 

Eecoveryd  wes  throuch  Scypyon, 

And  folowid  his  chare  onone  1 720 

And  gert  schawe  off  thare  hewyd  tlie  hare, 

In  takyn  that  thai  delyveryd  ware 

Fra  serwytute  and  threllage  fre, 

Passand  hanie  in  thare  cuntre". 

Eftyre  this  it  hapnyd  thus 
The  kyng,  that  [tyme],  Anthiocus, 
Agayne  the  Eomanys  ras  off  were, 
And  come  on  Se,  wytht  his  powere, 
In  tyll  Europe  off  Asy, 

And  Hanyball  than  prewaly  1730 

Brest  tyll  hym  agayne  Scypion 
In  tyll  confederation, 
Sa  that  his  Amerall  was  he 
Tyll  all  hys  Nawyne  apon  Se. 

Scipio  than  Affricane 
The  Eomanys  wytht  hym  has  he  tane, 
And  fawcht  wytht  Hanyball  sa  fast, 
Till  he  hym  wencust  at  the  last, 
And  mad  apon  hym  felloune  chas, 
And  he  for  dede  than  dredand  was,  1740 

All  his  pyth  put  in  tyll  spede 
As  he  was  artyd  than  on  nede ; 
And  quhen  the  kyng  Antyocus 
Swa  that  his  werd  turnyd  thus, 
Tretyd  wpone  trw  onone, 
And  concord  made  wyth  Scypyon. 

Off  Eome  ar  othir  batalis  sere, 


CH.  xix.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  237 

That,  gyff  thai  ware  all  reknyd  here, 

I  dred  suld  dull  yhoure  appetyte, 

And  gendyre  leth  mare  than  delyte.  1750 


CHAP.    XIX. 

xjtihen  the  fkgchtt*  in 
<£ome,  smb  in  it  tote 


.WA  hundyr  wyntyr,  and  na  mare, 
Or  that  the  madyn  Mary  bare 
Jhesu  Cryst,  a  cumpany 
Out  off  the  kynryk  off  Sythy 
Come  off  Peychtis  in  Irland, 
Quhar  than  the  Scottis  war  duelland, 
And  wald  have  bene  in  parcenary 
In  to  that  land  duelland  thaim  by. 
That  the  Scottys  thame  denyid ; 

F.  64.  b.     Bot  sayd,  thare  was  unoccupyid,  1760 

Lyand  beyhond  an  arme  off  Se 
Anentis  thame,  a  gret  cuntee", 
That  oft  thai  saw  on  dayis  lycht, 

Quhen  that  the  Sone  wes  schynand  brycht : 

And  that,  thai  said,  wes  profytabille 

For  to  ma  to  thame  habitabylle ; 

And  counsalyd  thame  for  to  pas  in 

That  ilk  land,  and  it  to  wyn ; 

And  thai  suld  rys  in  thare  defence, 

Gyff  ony  maid  thame  resistence,  1770 

And  thai  suld  mak  thame  suppowalle 

Wytht  gud,  and  men,  and  wytht  wytalle. 
The  Peychyts  askyd  the  Scottis  then 


238  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  IV. 

Weddyt  to  be  wyth  thaire  weme'n, 

Syn  nakyn  women  off  thare  kyth 

Thai  broucht  wyth-in  the  land  thame  wyth, 

Swa  wytht  thame  till  alyid  be 

Thai  and  thare  posteryte". 

That  was  accordyd  on  this  wys, 

That  giff  ony  dout  suld  rys,  1 780 

Quha  suld  succede,  and  regne  as  kyng, 

Quhen  that  the  kyngis  maid  endyng, 

He  sulde  be  kyng  off  all  the  hale, 

That  cummyn  war  be  lyine  female ; 

And  off  the  male  suld  nane  succed, 

Bot  it  ware  clere,  but  ony  drede. 

This  prerogatywe  than 

The  Scottis  fra  [the]  Peychtys  wan, 

And  was  kepyd  welle  allwayis 

Amang  the  Peychtys  in  thare  dayis.  1790 

Syne  thai  passyd  that  land  wythin, 
To  thame  and  thairis  it  to  wyn, 
And  the  Northt  landys  occupyid. 


CHAP.   XIX. 

[From  MSS.  C.,  E.  I.,  etc.] 

Cotton,  F.  43.    Syne  thai  passit  that  lande  witin  -f-1791 

To  thame  and  to  thar  aris  to  wyn, 
And  the  Northe  landis  occupyide, 
The  Souythe  that  tyme  inhabyide 
Withe  Brettownys  of  Brutus  seide, 


CH.  xix.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  239 

By  thairu  wes  Scottis  in  that  tyde, 
Begnand,  and  the  fyrst  man 
Off  thai  wes  Fergus-Ercswne  than  : 
And  in  the  Sowth  yhit  as  we  rede 
Wes  Bretownys  than  off  Brwtys  sede. 

Fra  Fergus  be  lyne 

Quhill  that  Kyned-Makalpyne  1 800 

Ras  as  kyng,  and  was  regnand 
Wytht-in  the  kynrik  off  Scotland, 
Few  persownys  lynyalle, 


Sa  in  our  Cornyclis,  as  we  reide, 

That  Scottis  war  regnande  mony  yhere 

Befor  the  Peychtis  cummyn  were 

Withe-in  Scotland,  I  can  noucht  ken 

Qwhat  thai  war  callit  that  regnyt  then,         -f- 1 800 

Bot  Fergus  Erschson,  I  wisse, 

The  fyrst  of  Scottis  he  reknyt  is 

That  regnyt,  as  the  Cornyclis  sayis, 

Kyng  befor  the  Peychtis  dayis, 

And  qwha  that  redly  se  kan 

He  wes  bot  the  tende  man. 

For  to  rekkyn  ewyn  be  lyne 

Befor  Kenyaucht-Makalpyne. 

Othir  seyr  that  we  of  reide 

Betweyn  tha  twa,  as  thai  succeide,  f  1810 

Sum  fel  collateralle 

And  regnande  our  the  Scottis  haile, 

As  coursse  made  and  qwhalite 

Ayris  wareande  to  be  ; 

Sum  hapnyt  to  ryng  throw  malice, 


240  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  IV. 

Swm  othir  fell  collateralle, 

As  cours  made  and  qualyte 

Ayrys  wawerand  for  to  be. 

Sum  hapnyd  to  regne  throuch  malice, 

And  ilkane  othir  wald  suppryce. 

Bot  fra  this  Fergus  evin  be  lyne 

Kynede  discendyd  Makalpyne.  1810 

And,  as  we  fynd  in  cure  story, 

Crwthne  that  tyme  Makrymy 

Wes  the  fyrst  in  till  Scotland 


And  ilkan  othir  walde  supprysse, 

Bot  fra  this  Fergus,  ewyn  be  lyne, 

Kenyaucht  descendit  Makalpyne, 

And  was  bot  in  the  tende  gre, 

And  yhit  mere,  gif  yhe  wil  se,  1 1820 

Eeknys  qwhat  the  tend  liffit  here, 

And  how  lang  tyme  thai  regnande  were, 

And  thai  al  sal  noucht  excede 

Thre  hundyr  yhere  wyth-outyn  dreide, 

Qwhar  in  the  Cornykil  writtyn  is 

Twelf  hundir,  and  fere  mare  I  wis, 

Fra  fyrst  the  Scottis  war  regnande 

Or  Kynyauch  Makalpyn  wan  the  lande. 

Bot  be  othir  Auctouris  seyr 

The  Scottis,  I  fynde,  begouthe  to  stere  f  1830 

Qwhen  that  the  Peychtis  was  reguaude ; 
To  that  I  ame  accordande, 
And  thare  date  set  I  wil 
Qwhen  the  processe  is  lede  thar-til. 
In  til  this  tyme  be  our  story 
Cruthne  that  tyme  Makryny. 


CH.  xix.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  241 

Atoure  the  Peychtys  kyng  regnand ; 
He  lyvyd,  and  regnyd  fyfty  yhere ; 
Bot  off  his  douchty  dedis  sere 
I  wyll  tell  na  mare  than  I  wate, 
F.  65.      For  Cornykklis,  that  off  hym  wrate, 
Sayd,  he  wes  a  juge  myld 
Eegnand  oure  the  Peychtys  wyld.  1820 

Nest  tyll  [hym]  succedyd  Gede, 
And  was  maid  kyng  in  till  his  stede 
Oure  the  Peychtys  in  Scotland 
Ane  hundyr  and  fyfty  yhere  regnand. 


Was  the  first  in  to  Scotlande 

Attour  the  Peychtis  kyng  regnande : 

He  liffit  and  regnyt  fifty  yher, 

Bot  of  his  douchty  dedis  seyr  -f  1840 

I  will  tell  na  mar  than  I  wate ; 

For  Cornycleris  that  of  hym  wrate, 

Saide,  he  wes  a  juge  mylde 

Eegnande  our  the  Peychtis  wilde. 

Next  til  hym  succedit  Gede, 
And  was  made  kyng  in  til  his  stede 
Oure  the  Peychtis  in  Scotlande 
Ane  hundyr  and  fyfty  yher  regnande. 


VOL.  I. 


242  THE  CRONYKIL  [B.  IV. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

IptfiD  (Hartagt,  xrf  ornsale, 

Sites  xrtbangt  to  be  tonimw  nil  hale. 


_NE  hundyr  and  fyfty  yhere  beforne 
Or  God  wes  off  our  Lady  borne, 
Off  Rome  gaddryd  the  senage 
And  ordanyd  till  wndo  all  Cartage. 
Scypyo  than  Affrycane 

Lord  off  the  Romanys  and  chyftane  1830 

Gert  in  hy  befor  hym  call 
The  cytyzanys  off  Cartage  all, 
And  gawe  thame  stratly  raawndement, 
But  ony  kyn  impedyment, 
Hastyly  for  till  hym  bryng 
Thare  wapnys  all,  and  thare  armynge, 
And  all  thaire  nawyn  syne  bad  he 
Suld  tyll  hym  delyveryde  be, 
And  efftyr  that  he  bad  thame  mare, 
Fra  the  se  that  thai  suld  fare  1840 

Ten  thowsand  pasys  syne,  but  lete ; 
In  sorowe  sare  than  war  thai  sete, 
Sum  nevyrtheles  yhyt  passyd  sone, 
And  in  all  as  he  bad  has  done, 
Sum  chesyd  errare  thare  pyth  to  prowe, 
Or  thai  wald  fra  the  se  remowe, 
And  sum  chesid  errare  to  de 
Than  thai  walde  fra  thare  fredume  fle*. 
Chyfftanys  than  thai  chesyd  twa, 
And  gert  off  gold  and  silvyr  ma  1850 


CH.  xx.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  243 

The  armwrys,  and  the  wapnys  all, 

That  to  thare  nede  wes  lyk  to  fall, 

On  this  wyis  thai  relevyd  welle 

All  thare  defawte  off  yrne  and  stelle. 

Scypio  than  in  his  ire 

Gert  set  the  towne  than  in  [a]  fyre, 

And  in  it  thare  the  fyre  brynnand 

Sewyntene  dayis  wes  ay  lestand. 

This  wes  the  fyrst  destructyoune 

Off  Cartage,  that  nobill  towne,  1 860 

Quhen  sevyn  hundyr  yhere  and  ane 

Fra  it  wes  foundyt  qwyt  wes  gane. 

The  thryd  batale  Punyk  here 
Tays  end,  and  lestis  bot  foure  yhere  ; 
The  secund  batalle  bath  and  it. 
Held  twenty  yhere,  as  sayis  the  wryt, 
Thretty  thousand  off  men  thare 
And  fyve  and  twenty  thousand  ware 
Off  women,  reknyd  off  Cartage, 
That  come  and  yhald  thame  in  thrillage,          1870 
Servandys  for  tyll  be  alway 
To  the  Eomanys  fra  that  day ; 
F.  65.  b.       for  dowt  thai  had  [beyn]  perysyd  in 
The  cyt£  quhen  thai  saw  it  bryn ; 
Wytht  bettyr  wyll  yhit  othir  ma 
In  to  that  brynnand  fyre  walde  ga, 
And  de  wytht-[in]  thare  awyn  fre, 
Than  in  to  serwytute  to  be 
Serwand  to  the  Romanys  ay, 
Thai  and  thare  ayrys  fra  that  day.  1880 


244  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  IV. 


CHAP.   XXI. 


the  litfmangs  than 
Cxrrpnt  anb  JUhage  toan. 

.NE  hundyr  and  sex  and  fourty  yhere 
Before  that  Mary,  madyn  clere, 
God  had  borne  off  hyr  body, 
Cartage  delete  wes  halyly, 
And  off  Coryntus  than  the  towne 
Famows  and  off  gret  renowne 
In  to  Grece,  the  Eomanys  than 
Assegyd  wytht  thare  ost,  and  wan. 
Wytht-in  the  towne  sic  multitude 
Off  symulacrys  on  pillaris  stude,  1890 

Massy,  grete,  welle  polyst  syne, 
Made  off  gold  and  sylvyr  fyne ; 
Eftyre  that  all  that  towne  in  fyre 
Wes  brynt  and  fallyn  in  colys  schyre, 
All  the  metall  moltynnyd  than 
In  tyll  a  qwerne  togydder  ran ; 
That  metalle,  mad  sa  pure  and  fyne, 
Off  Corynt  had  the  tytill  syne, 
And  all  the  weschall  off  it  made 
The  name  thare-efft  off  Corynt  hade.  1900 

In  to  this  tym  I  spak  beforne, 
In  to  Eome  a  barne  wes  borne 
That  had  foure  handys  and  foure  fete, 
Foure  eyne  and  foure  eyrys  yhete, 
And  before  had  pyncillis  twa. 

The  fyre  that  tyme  off  Ethna, 


CH.  XXL]  OF  SCOTLAND.  245 

That  is  ane  hyll  wythin  Cyzile, 

Brwstyd  owt  in  to  that  quhille, 

Sa  that  it  brynt  all  suddanly 

Sere  landys  that  lay  nere  [thar]  by.  1910 

Alsua  that  tyme  in  Cyzille 
Thare  ras  a  suddane  were  serville, 
That  breyde  the  Komanys  als  welle 
As  thame  off  Cyzille  ilka  delle. 
Bot  off  thai  schortly  for  to  say 
Twenty  thousand  on  a  day 
Discumfyte  wes,  and  slayne  all  downe, 
And  thare  pompe  browcht  till  confusioune. 
Ay  serwandys  quhen  that  yhe  se  rys, 
In  yre  thare  lord[is]  for  till  supprys,  1920 

Quhat  the  oys  is  seldynyare, 
It  hapnys  all  the  cruellare. 
For-thi  till  Alexandyr  the  kyng, 
Arystotyll,  in  his  techyng, 
F.  66.        Sayd,  "  Gyff  thow  thynkys  for  to  be 
Kyng  to  regne  in  reawte, 
Be  wyt  off  lordys  thow  suld  lywe, 
And  th4  fra  lustys  to  wertu  gywe, 
Twyn-tungyd  serwandys  on  all  wys, 
And  wykyd  fals  thow  sail  disprys,  1930 

And  thai  that  off  kynd  suld  be 
Threll  serwandys  in  tyll  powerte, 
Thow  sail  relew  thame  to  na  hycht, 
Na  put  thame  to  na  stat  off  mycht, 
For  dowt  that  thai,  apon  sic  wys 
As  ryweris  reche  for  rayne  wyll  rys, 
And  wavyre  mare  wytht  wawys  wude, 
Than  wyll  a  kyndly  standand  nude, 
Ryse  agayne  thare  lord  off  were,- 


246  THE  CRONYKIL  [B.  IV. 

Hym  to  supprys  wyth  thaire  powere  ;  1940 

Fra  thai  be  growyn  in  welth  and  welle, 

And  till  wnkyndly  slepand  seile, 

Till  maistry  or  till  mykyll  mycht, 

Till  honour  and  till  wnhawand  hycht, 

Fra  reuth  thai  sail  thare  erys  dyt, 

And  na  thyng  will  off  mercy  wyt, 

Bot  sail  wyth-draw  thame  fra  pete, 

Mare  deffe  than  ony  awsk  yhe  se. 

The  reule  o'ff  resowne,  nevyrtheles, 

Sail  ye  noucht  lede  in  that  stray tnes,  1950 

Thou  sail  hym  wytht  gud  relewe, 

And  in  till  state  off  honure  prewe 

That  belyste  is  in  [to]  bownte. 

And  avynand  is  off  honeste. 

Off  fayre  affere  and  thewys  gud, 

Wertuws,  and  myld  off  mwde ; 

Set  that  he  want  faculte", 

Or  kyn,  and  gud  in  till  plente. 

For  the  soyth,  gywe  yhe  will  say, 

Welth  and  ryches  wownt  wes  ay  1960 

In  wantones  mare  will  to  drawe 

Than  havyng  fayr  in  mesure  hawe. 

And  certys  quha  that  habowndis 

But  ryches,  in  till  gud  thewys, 

Lawte,  wyte,  and  fayr  hawyng, 

He  may  noucht  fale  off  owtward  thyng. 

For  thai  he  may  well  set  before 

Sylvyr,  gold,  and  all  tresore, 

And  he  may  symply  wyth  that  prys 

Eedeme,  but  mare,  his  landis  wys,  1970 

And  fayre  lordschip  tyl  hym  wyn, 

And  grow  in  gentill  kyth  and  kyn. 


CH.  XXIL]  OF  SCOTLAND.  247 

I  meyne  noucht  his  necessyte 
That  alway  lywys  in  honeste, 
Owtward  hawand  sufficians, 
And  inward  wertuws  habowndans  ; 
He  may  be  callyd  a  gentill-man 
That  wertu  and  fayr  hawyng  can 
Off  fre  men  ay  the  multitude 
Sail  set  thame  for  till  eyk  the  gude,  1 980 

F.  66.  b.       Wyth  honowre  land  and  lordschype  wyn 

And  helpe  thare-self,  thaire  kyth,  thare  kyn  ; 
Bot  the  threllys  serwandys  ay 
Sail  honest^  at  wndyr  lay 
And,  but  mercy,  sail  supprys 
Quhen  wantones  mays  thame  to  rys." 

The  land  off  Cyzille  in  the  Se 
Wes  that  tyme  off  sic  caytyfte, 
Till  nane  honowre  awenand, 

Na  till  na  statis  sufficyand,  1990 

Till  tyrandys  quhilum  wndyrloute, 
And  quhill  wytht  serwandis  in  gret  dowte, 
And,  wndyre  gret  exactyown, 
Haldyn  in  till  supprysiowne. 


CHAP.   XXIL 


that  xrff  llxrme  gert  biijgtb 
xrf  (Eartaje  the  rte. 


A 


NE  hundyre  and  twenty  yhere  before 
And  ane  to  rekyn  or  God  wes  bore, 
The  Komanys  in  to  that  quhille 
To  Cartage  send  off  thare  famyle, 


248  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  IV. 

For  till  big  wp  agayne  the  towne, 

And  mak  thare  habitatyowne  2000 

Thare,  and  hald  it  fra  that  day 

Trybutare  till  Rome  alway, 

That  twenty  yhere  and  twa  wes  efft 

That  it  wes  brynt  in  colys  left. 

The  hiU  off  Ethna  than  off  fyre 
Brak  out,  and  brynt  in  colys  schyre, 
[And]  all  the  howsis  off  Catenes, 
That  in  till  Cyzille  lyand  wes ; 
And  for  that  caus  thai  freyde  were 
Fra  the  trewage  off  ten  yhere,  2010 

Sa  that  thai  mycht  relewyd  be, 
And  byg  agayne  thare  brynt  cyte. 


CHAP.   XXIII. 

Dxrto  mattg  Hjiom&mz  01agne 
Jtnb  toflfltttt  ragtanb  in 


.£3.NE  hundyr  wyntyr  and  ellewyn, 

Or  Mary  bare  the  Kyng  off  Hewyn, 

The  Eomanys  wyth  thare  Consules 

In  were  and  batayle  movyd  wes 

Agayne  syndry  regyownys, 

Bath  Duche  and  Frankys  natyownys, 

That  set  halyly  thare  intent, 

Bwndyn  apon  ane  assent,  2020 

The  Romanys  till  hawe  wndone  ; 

And  thare  apon  thai  semlyd  sone 

In  fecht,  quhar  off  the  cytezanys, 

Besid  othire  owte  Romanys, 


CH.  XXIIL]  OF  SCOTLAND.  249 

Foure  score  of  thoussanddis  wes  slayne  downe, 
Besyd  tha  wytht-owte  the  towne, 
Fourty  thousand  reknyd  hale 
Off  Eomanys  slayne  wythtin  batalle. 
Sex  score  off  thousand  in  that  fycht 
Slayne  to  the  dede  wes  dycht.  2030 

That  batell  was  off  sic  felny, 
&•  67.       That  bot  ten  men  anerly 

Off  the  Eomanys  fra  that  place 

Etchapyd,  for  to  tell  the  cas. 

Than  thai  off  Eome  gret  murnyng  made, 

And  howerand  in  gret  dowte  abade, 

Dredand  sare  that  that  menyhe 

Suld  wyn  and  tak  wp  thare  cyte". 

The  Duche-men  and  thai  [of]  Cymbry 

Togyddyr  knyt  in  cumpany  2040 

In  Ytaly,  as  thai  abade, 

Thare  sudjowrnyng  for  till  have  made, 

Thame  to  refresche  in  wyntyr  tyde, 

And  frostys  fell  for  till  ourbyde. 

The  Eomanys  wyth  thare  consules, 

Or  thai  to  fecht  arayid  wes, 

Brak  apon  thame  suddanly. 

And  slwe  [thaim]  downe  dispytwysly, 

Bot  thai  off  Eome,  in  that  dispyte, 

Yhit  wes  noucht  off  all  scathys  qwyte,  2050 

For  off  thaim  mony  slayne  wes  thare  : 

Thare  inymyis  yhit  reknyd  ware 

Ane  hundyr  and  sex[ty]  thousand  dede, 

And  presownerys  tane  in  to  that  stede 

Wes  reknyd  sevynty  thousand  gude, 

Wytht-owte  a  gret  multytude 

Off  wemen,  rageand  in  wodenes, 


250  THE  CRONYKIL  [B.  IV. 

And  fallyn,  for  dule,  in  hewynes ; 

Quhill  thai  put  thaim-self  to  dede, 

And  si  we  thare  barnys,  but  remede.  2060 

In  memor  off  that  victory 
The  Romanys  gert  byg  in  hy 
A  tempill  fayr,  and  that  gert  thai 
Be  Cymbry  callid  eftyr  ay, 
That  syne  wes  haldyn  in  honore 
Nere  Saynct  Mary  the  Majore. 


CHAP.    XXIV. 


next  f0l0ioattb,e  (E-hapgter* 
on  fell  takgnnia  0m. 


F 


OUR  schore  off  wyntyr  and  sevyntene 
Or  lychtare  wes  the  Madyne  clene, 
The  state  off  Rome  begouth  to  be 
Stade  in  gret  perplexyte",  2070 

Amang  thame-self  dewysyd  swa, 
That  thai  ware  lyk  gret  skath  to  ta, 
N~a  ware  the  hape  it  sessyd  soue, 
Fra  that  thai  to  the  dede  wes  done, 
Throuch  consalle  off  the  Consules, 
That  the  fyrst  matyr  off  it  wes  ; 
Than  throwcht  fellowne  taknys  sere 
The  Romanys  all  [ajbreyd  were. 

At  Careptyne,  as  thai  ware  set, 
Apon  a  day  all  at  the  mete,  2080 

Apon  the  burde  owte  off  thare  breyde, 
Thare  brystyd  owt  the  blud  all  rede  ; 
Nere  by  [in]  ane  othire  plas 


CH.  xxiv.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  251 

F.  67.  b.       The  erde  clave  and  oppynnyd  was, 
And  a  low  out  off  that  ryfft 
Strak  wp  evyn  nere  to  the  lyfft, 
And  alkyne  best  hamly  thare 
That  amang  men  lywand  ware, 
Left  thare  stablys  and  thare  fude, 
And  yhelland  ran,  as  thai  ware  wude,  2090 

Tyll  woddys  and  till  wyldyrnes, 
Lewand  thare  auld  hamlynes ; 
And  hundys,  that  ay  kyndly 
Requirys  mennys  cumpany, 
Ran  wud  as  wolwys  to  the  wode, 
Gowland  in  gret  multytude. 

Fra  thir  taknys  was  all  done 
Othir  casis  hapnyd  sone, 
For  Julyus  Cesare,  in  Sampnyte, 
Wes  wytht  his  hale  ost  discumfyte,  2100 

That  all  his  men  bot  he  [al]ane 
In  to  that  land  wes  slayne  or  tane ; 
Pompeyus  wencust  wes  alswa, 
And  in  till  othir  landis  ma 
All  the  Romanys  wes  qwyte 
In  tyll  thaire  werys  discumfyte. 
Tharefor  the  senage  a  clethyng 
Made  thame,  in  takyn  off  murnyng ; 
And  Julyus  Cesare  in  that  wede 
Wes  wytht  thame  clede,  bot  syne,  but  drede,    2110 
Eftyre  syndry  juperdyis, 
Quhare  wencust  wes  his  inymyis, 
That  garment  he  put  fra  hyni  sone, 
And  othire  [weid]  has  on  hym  done. 

Pompeyus  alsua,  that  Pretore 
Discumfyte  in  tyll  fecht  before, 


252  THE  CRONTKIL  [B.  IV. 

Wan  and  had  great  victoryis 
In  batayle,  and  in  juperdyis  : 
Ascalon  wytht  his  powere 

He  assegyde  and  wan  off  were ;  2120 

Auchtene  thousand  men  wes  tane, 
Slayne,  and  dede,  wyth  thare  chefftane. 
The  Were  Civile  was  than  sa  fele, 
Sa  owtrageows,  and  sa  cruel, 
Sa  wyolent,  and  than  sa  kene, 
That  sic  befor  wes  nevyre  sene ; 
For  off  the  Eomanys  sere 
Fechtand  agane  Silla  were, 
And  off  thame  mony  faucht  alsua 
Agaynis  othir  wytht  Silla.  2130 

Silla  thane  a  Romane  wes, 
Ane  chosyne  off  the  Consules. 
The  Eomanys  in  to  tha  dayis 
Be  thousandys,  as  Frer  Martyn  sayis, 
Innowmerabill  wytht-in  that  fycht, 
Wytht  dyntys  downe  to  ded  wes  dycht. 
Quhill  thai  in  were  wes  wedand  thus, 
A  Roman  than  callyd  Cantulus, 
Till  Silla  sayde  apon  this  wyis, 
"In  this  were,  and  this  juperdyis,  2140 

We  sla  thaim  all  anarmyd  downe, 
That  yhit  relewe  wald  oure  renowne, 
And  nakyd  we  slay  thame  in  pes, 
F.  68.       That  walde  ws  helpe  to  wyn  prowes." 
Than  Silla  made  for  that  resowne 
A  tabyll  off  prescryptyowne, 
Sa  that  fyrst  proscrywyd  ware 
Foure  score  off  thousand  men,  and  mare, 
And  fywe  hundyr  efftyr  thai 


CH.  xxv.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  253 

Proscrywyd  ware  throucht  this  Silla.  2150 

The  Eomanys  swa  was  fra  thare  stede 

Nere  exylyde  or  slayne  to  dede. 

This  "Were  Civile  ten  yhere  owte 

Contynwyde  wes  wytht-owtyn  dowte  ; 

And  off  the  Eomanys  slayne  ware 

Ane  hundyr  and  fyfty  thousand  thare ; 

And  endyng  it  begouth  to  ta 

Eftyr  that  dede  wes  this  Silla. 

Pompeyus  than  the  Oryente 

Warrayd  throuch  fors  and  hardyment,  2160 

And  fawcht  wyth  twa  and  twenty  sere 

Kyngys  off  mycht  and  gret  powere. 


CHAP.    XXV. 


3En  till  thi0  next  Chapitm, 
©ff  Julius  toate  glte  0all  hwt. 


F< 


OUEE  score  off  yhere,  hot  ane  les, 
Before  that  God  off  Mary  wes 
Borne,  off  Frans  the  regyownys 
Tyll  Cesare  and  sevyn  legyownys 
Gyvyn  and  delyveryd  were, 
To  wyn  off  were  wytht-in  fywe  yhere. 
Off  Trevyr  syne,  the  gret  cyte" 
He  wan,  and  it  dystroyid  he.  2170 

All  Frans  and  Brettayne  syne  off  were 
To  Eome  he  mad  bath  tributere ; 
And  a  bryg  he  gert  mak  syne 
Atoure  the  gret  ry were  off  Eyne. 
All  Duche-land  syne  he  oure  rade 


254  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  IV. 

And  tributere  to  Eome  it  made. 

Thire  dedys  quhen  [that]  he  had  done, 
Till  Eome  he  tuk  his  wayage  sone. 
Wytht  mare  honour  than  thoucht  he, 
For  till  have  bene  in  that  cyte"  2180 

For  his  worschype  gret  resayvyde 
Bot  thare-off  qwyte  he  was  dyssaywyd 
For  thai  off  Eome  fra  Julius 
Inclynyd  till  Pompeyus, 
Quharfore  thai  wald  noucht  till  hym  do 
Sik  honowre  as  afferyde  hym  to, 
Na  wald  noucht  mak  off  thare  tresore 
Hys  costys,  as  thai  dyde  before. 
Agayne  thare  wyllys  hale,  for-thi 
In  till  the  towne  wytht  his  maystry  2190 

He  mad  entre,  and  wp  brak 
The  tresoure  hows,  and  syne  cowth  tak 
Off  thare  tresowre  a  gret  dele 
Bath  off  mone  and  jowelle, 
And  furth  in  werys  syne  he  past 
Till  he  in  Spayne  come  at  the  last ; 
F.  68.  b.        Thare  for  till  [telle]  yhowe  schortly 
Ay  all  hym  fell  the  wyctory. 
In  Ytaly  syne  turnyd  he 

Thare  for  to  fycht  wytht  this  Pompe" ;  2200 

And  Pompeyus  wyth  stowtnes 
To  fecht  wytht  hym  arayid  wes. 
Thare,  efftyre  lang  and  hard  bataylle, 
Pompeyus  [ost]  begouth  to  fayle, 
And  hym-self  syne  at  the  last 
Turnyd  the  bak  and  fled  rycht  fast, 
And  past  throuch  Asy  in  till  Tyre, 
In  Egypte  syne,  quhare  lord  and  syre 


CH.  xxv.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  255 

That  tyme  wes  Schir  Tolome, 

That  tuk  and  gert  slay  this  Pompe ;  2210 

Syne  off  hys  fyngyre  he  gert  ta 

Hys  ryng,  and  his  hewyd  alsua 

He  gert  stryk  off,  and  thai  he  sent 

Till  Julyus  Cesare  in  present, 

That  in  tyll  Alysandyr  abade, 

Era  he  the  chas  off  Pompe  made  ; 

Quhen  he  the  hewyd  saw  and  the  ryng 

Off  Pompeyus,  in  gretyng 

He  fell,  and  menyd  sare  that  he 

On  that  manere  suld  endyde  be.  2220 

Julyus  Cesare  that  tyme  thare 

Arrywyd  in  tyll  the  ile  off  Fare  ; 

Off  that  ile  all  lord  than  wes 

A  man  off  gret  mycht,  Achilles, 

Agayne  Cesare  he  fell  in  fycht. 

Quhare  slayne  wes  mony  a  douchty  knycht 

Off  Julyus  Cesarys  cumpany, 

And  than  thai  slayne  war  halyly 

That  before  Pompeyus  slwe. 

Than  Julyus  til  hys  schippis  drwe,  2230 

And  in  that  passage  than  he  wes 

Set  in  tyll  sik  thraiig  and  pres, 

That  in  tyll  his  bate,  quhen  he 

Wes  gane  and  in  it  made  entre, 

Throuche  the  charge  at  it  bare, 

In  to  the  se  it  sank  rycht  thare  ; 

Bot  off  that  bate  than  in  the  se 

He  lape,  and  thare  swymmand  he 

Held  on  till  his  schyppis  fast, 

Twa  hundyre  pasys  swa  he  past,  2240 

Haldand  owthe  the  wattyre  ay 


256  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  IV. 

Hys  a  hand  as  he  swam  that  day, 
And  swa  held  all  his  lettrys  dry, 
In  that  hand  closyd  prewaly, 
Till  his  galay  qwyll  that  he 
Come,  and  in  it  made  entre". 
Off  Alysandyr  the  ost  all  hale 
Off  Se  gawe  hym  than  [harde]  bataylle, 
Thare  bath  thare  nawyne  and  thare  kyng 
Takyn  wes  throuch  hard  fechtyng,  2250 

Bot  thare  kyng  off  curtasy, 
At  thare  askyng,  [than]  thraly 
He  lete  pass,  but  rawnsone  fre, 
And  playnly  hym  consalyd  he 
All  his  diligence  to  sete 
Off  the  Eomanys  for  to  get 
F.  69.      Frendschype,  tendyrnes,  and  luwe, 

And  nakyn  were  agayne  them  muwe. 

Bot  that  kyng,  fra  he  wes  fre 
And  all  set  in  his  awyn  pouste",  2260 

Left  that  counsalle,  or  all  foryhette, 
And  for  the  were  all  halle  hym  sette, 
But  throuch  this  Julyus  he  wes  qwyte 
On  Se  thare-efftyre  discumfyte, 
And  twenty  thousand  off  his  men 
Wes  slayne  in  to  that  jowrne  then, 
And  twelf  thousand  men  were  thare 
Slayne  fra  this  Julyus  [than]  Cesare  ; 
Thre  scor  and  ten  bargis  lang 
Was  tynt  and  drownyd  in  that  thrang  2270 

And  into  this  pres  that  kyng, 
Awenand,  honest,  fayre,  and  yhing, 
In  to  that  bataylle  wes  sa  mate, 
That  prewaly  he  gat  a  bate, 


CH.  xxv.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  257 

And  to  the  land  [than]  walde  haf  past, 

Bot  Julyus  oste  on  hym  sa  fast 

Folowyd  thare  wytht  sa  gret  pres 

That  slayne  in  to  that  fechtyne  he  wes. 

And  efftyre  that  apon  that  sand, 

Quhare  mony  bodyis  slayne  thai  fand  2280 

And  castyne  wp,  that  kyng  wytht  crowne 

Thai  knewe  welle  be  his  habyrjowne 

"Wytht  gylt  mayle,  for  in  that  plas 

Lyk  till  it  nane  fundyn  was. 

Till  Alysandyr  Julyus  send 

That  hawbyrjowne,  quhare  thai  it  kend. 

For  dispayre  the  towne  than  wes 

Yholdyn,  and  till  Cleopatres 

This  Julyus  Cesare  gaw  all  hale 

Off  Egypt  all  the  governale.  2290 

Syne  he  passyd  throuch  Surry 
And  wan  gret  lordschyppis  and  syndry ; 
And  efftyre  that  to  Eome  come  he, 
And  [was]  relewyd  tyll  heyere  gre ; 
For  Dytoure  that  tyme  thai  hym  made, 
And  Consule  als  thare-efft,  but  bade ; 
Baythe  Spayne  and  Affryk  apon  were 
He  made  till  Eome  trybutere, 
And  efftyre  that  in  Eome  wes  he 
Eessaywyd  wyth  gret  reawte.  .        2300 

Than  sevyn  moneth  and  thre  yhere, 
Quhen  all  thare  werys  endyt  were, 
His  stat  he  held  as  Empryowre, 
And  lywyd  in  wyrschype  and  honowre ; 
Bot  wytht  twa  traytourys  syn,  Alias ! 
He  falsly  dyssaywyd  was ; 
The  tane  off  thai  wes  Cassius, 

VOL.  I.  R 


258  THE  CRONYKIL  [B.  IV. 

The  tothir  callyd  wes  than  Brutus, 
And  yhit  wes  sayd  that  sexty  may 
In  that  consentyd  to  thai  tway,  2310 

Than  in  the  [court]  all  suddanly 
[Thai]  stekyd  hym  rycht  fellownly 
Wytht  scharpe  pownsownys,  and  thai  thare 
Foure  and  twenty  wowndys  sare 
F.  69.  b.         Gawe  hym ;  and  thus  quhylle  tha 
Wes  fellownly  hym  stekand  swa, 
And  betwene  thame  thare  bledand, 
Stud  ewyn  wp  wyth  his  rycht  hand 
[And]  off  hys  gowne  a  lap  tuk  thare, 
And  cuveryd  befor  hys  eyne  bare,  2320 

And  wytht  his  left  hand  he  held  downe 
The  nethir  lape  thare  off  his  gowne 
Behynd  lauch,  that  nane  suld  se 
Spot,  fylth,  or  wnhonest^ 
Behynd,  in  till  his  down  fallyng. 
This  wes  his  last  endyng 
Eftyre  that  sax  and  twenty  yhere 
Off  his  eyld  was  passyd  clere. 
Hys  body  dede  the  pepyll  syne    - 
Brynt,  and  made  off  merbyll  fyne  2330 

A  pyllare  twenty  fwte  off  hycht, 
And  it  thai  gert  be  set  wp-rycht 
.    In  to  the  rnerket,  thare  gert  thai 
The  powdyre  and  the  banys  lay. 
Or  Julyus  deid,  as  I  herd  tell, 
In  Borne  wncouth  taknys  felle ; 
Or  he  wes  dede  the  hundryth  day 
Off  fyrslaucht  fell,  brynt  all  away, 
The  fyrst  lettyr  off  his  state 
That  men  apon  his  ymage  wrate,  2340 


OH.  xxv.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  259 

Quhen  that  it  wes  fyrst  wp  set, 

Ewyn  in  to  the  myd  merkete. 

C,  that  lettyre  capytalle, 

Is  set  in  nowmerys  wsualle 

For  aue  hundyre,  and  for-thi 

The  Eomanys  had  a  fantasy 

Fra  C  off  Cesare  wes  away, 

That  abowte  the  hundyr  day 

Wouke,  moneth,  or  moment, 

Be  [the]  lest  ay  thare  intent  2350 

Be  that  nowmyre  wes  hoverand 

And  suddand  casys  abydand. 
Off  the  nycht  neyst  gane  beforne 

That  Julyus  slayne  wes  on  the  morne, 

As  he  in  tyll  his  chawmyr  lay, 

In  tyll  his  bed  lang  forow  day. 

A  suddane  thude  mad  swylk  a  brus, 

That  all  the  wyndowys  in  a  rus 

Off  his  chawmyr  quhare  he  lay 

Brak  wpe,  and  he  than  in  affray  2360 

Stert  owte  off  his  bed  wytht  that, 

And  lychtly  on  his  solys  gat, 

For  all  the  hows  that  tynie  he  wend 

Off  his  lyff  suld  have  made  end. 

Quhen  he  was  dede  in  till  his  hand 
Thai  priwe  lettrys  closyd  fand, 
That  warnyd  off  his  dede  hade  bene, 
Gyff  he  before  wald  thame  have  sene. 

And  all  this  tyme  wytht-in  Scotland 
Ged  oure  the  Peychtys  was  regnand.  2370 

The  state  off  Rome  fyrst  gowernyd  wes 
Wytht  Kyngis  before  Consules 
Twa  hundyr  yhere,  foure  scor,  and  sevyn, 


260  THE  CRONYKIL  [B.  IV. 

As  Frere  Martyne  reknys  ewyn ; 
Foure  hundyr  wyntyr  and  twenty, 
F.  70.         And  foure  to  rekyn  evynly, 

Off  Rome  the  gret  stat  governyd  wes 

Hale  be  chosyne  Consules, 

Quhill  Julyus  [Cesare]  ras,  and  hale 

Tuk  till  hym  the  governale.  2380 


CHAP.  XXVI. 


(Dff  dDrtabimu  gh.e  0all  Itere 
liext  folotoaitb  in  this  Chapiters. 


T 


WA  and  fourty  yhere  beforne 
Or  Jhesu  off  Mary  wes  borne, 
Octovyane,  than  newew 
Till  Julyus  that  [the]  Romanys  slwe, 
Ras  off  Rome  bathe  lord  and  syre, 
And  governyd  stoutly  the  empyre ; 
Fywe  batayllis  sere  in  his  youthhede 
He  dyde,  and  prowyd  gret  manhede. 
The  fyrst  off  tha  fywe  and  the  last, 
That  I  hawe  lychtly  [thus]  owre  past,  2390 

He  dyd  stoutly  wytht  Marchus, 
Be  surname  callyd  Antonius. 
Quhen  fyftene  yhere  wes  bygane 
Fra  fyrst  begouth  Octowyane, 
For  to  regne  in  sic  plente, 
Off  Rome  the  tresoure  ekyd  he, 
The  state  [the]  wyrschype  and  the  fame 
That  thai  than  ekyd  till  his  name 
August,  that  in  propyrte 


CH.  xxvi.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  261 

Ay  suld  ekyug  callid  be,  2400 

And  sa  the  Eomanys  fra  that  day 

Callyd  hym  Cesare  August  ay ; 

Fra  thine  he,  and  his  successowrys 

Succedand  in  till  empryowrys, 

For  the  tytill  off  thare  state 

All  tyme  Cesare  August  wrate, 

And  the  empyre  efftyre  than 

Wes  all  subjecte  till  a  man, 

And  he  fyrst  as  lord  and  syre 

Off  all  the  warld  aucht  the  Empyre,  2410 

And  was  callyd  in  Grew,  for-thi, 

Fra  thine  furth  the  Monarchy. 

Syn  this  Octovyane 

The  land  off  Spayne  wyth  batell  wan, 

And  mony  othire  landys  sere, 

Off  were  he  wan  wytht  his  powere. 

In  thai  dayis  Pannony, 
That  marchand  nere  is  Wngary, 
Tyberyus,  hys  stepsone, 

Wytht  fellowne  slauchtyr  has  wndone ;  2420 

And  Duche-land  syne  als  fast 
Tyberyus  oure  rade  and  past. 
This  Duche-land  cald  Germany 
Strekand  lyis  fra  Pannony 
To  the  gret  rywere  off  Eyne, 
As  sayis  Orosius  and  Solyne. 
Thai  sayis  that  rywerys  thre 
Off  Germany  suld  callid  be ; 
Alba,  that  throuch  Boem  rynnys, 
And  Adra,  that  nere  it  begynnys,  2430 

And  the  Vyssill  in  Poleyn  land 
Begynnys,  and  throucht  it  is  rennand. 


262  THE  CRONYKIL  [B.  IV. 

F.  70.  b.  Tyberyus  wes  warrayande 

Thre  yhere  in  this  Duch-land, 
Wytht  legyownys  tuelff  off  knychtys  gud. 
The  were  than  als  cruell  stude 
That  nane  wes  till  it  off  owtrage 
To  sauff  the  gret  were  of  Cartage ; 
For  off  Rome  than  legyownys  thre 
Wes  slayne  and  tane  in  that  cuntre ;  2440 

Bot  efftyre  that  till  hys  empyre 
Octovyane,  bathe  lord  and  syre, 
Wan  all  that  laud,  and  halyly 
Off  all  the  warld  a  Monarchy, 
He  had  in  quiete  and  in  pes 
And  Empryowre  thare-off  he  wes, 
Regnand  in  gret  reawte", 
Honor,  state,  and  majeste* : 
That  all  the  men  off  his  empyre, 
Noucht  anerly  bathe  lord  and  syre.  2450 

Or  empryowre  thai  wald  hym  calle, 
Bot  for  hale  counsall  thai  said  alle, 
For  his  prys  and  his  waloure, 
As  God  thai  wald  hym  all  honoure. 

All  hys  tyme  in  to  unyte 
The  warld  wes,  and  in  cheryte, 
And  ilke  man  off  ane  accorde 
Hym  anerly  kend  for  thare  lorde ; 
He  passyd  noucht  wytht-owtyn  were 
Off  eyld  ane  and  twenty  yhere,  2460 

Quhen  he  wes  maid  fyrst  empryoure, 
Bot  it  he  led  in  gret  honoure, 
That  for  [his]  prys  and  his  gud  fame, 
August  wes  ekyd  till  his  name. 

Off  his  name  that  moneth  ay 


CH.  xxvi.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  263 

Wes  August  callyd  to  this  day, 

Before  than  Sextile  it  wes  cald : 

Be  that  ensawmpyll  yhit  we  hald 

The  monethys  neyst  it  folowand, 

The  fyrst  at  Marche  begynnand,  2470 

Be  the  nowmyr  thame  to  call, 

As  they  are  set  per  ordyre  all, 

Bot  the  Sextille  turnyd  the  name 

In  August,  for  the  realle  fame 

Off  Octovyane,  for  that  he 

Wytht  Anton  mad  rycht  gret  mel!4; 

Off  that  moneth  the  fyrst  day, 

For-thi  thai  callyd  August  ay. 

In  tyll  the  fywe  and  twentyd  yhere 
Off  his  empyre,  for-owtyn  were,  2480 

Virgyle  deyd  in  Brwndyis, 
Bot  in  Naplis  his  body  lyis  : 
And  the  fywe  and  threttyd  yhere 
Off  his  empyre,  wytht-owtyn  were, 
The  poet  into  Eome,  Oras, 
Deyd  and  enteryd  was. 
Thus  in  quiete  quhill  he  wes 
And  stablyst  all  the  warld  in  pes, 
Eegnand  in  tyll  his  majeste*, 

Honoure,  state,  and  reawte,  2490 

Commendyt  off  gret  douchtynes, 
Off  worschype,  wyt,  and  worthynes, 
Honest,  habyll,  and  avenand, 
F.  71.         At  all  poynt  propyre  and  plesand, 
Fay  re  off  fassowne  and  off  fas, 
And  large  off  lym  and  lyth  he  was, 
Cunnand,  curtas,  and  cumly, 
Noucht  lycht  off  latis  bot  luffly. 


264  THE  CRONYKIL  [B.  IV. 

Thus  he  regnand  lord  and  syre 
Oure  all  the  Warld  in  ane  Empyre,  2500 

He  set  hym  haly  for  to  wyt, 
And  to  put  in  autentyk  wryte 
All  kynrykys  and  all  regyownys, 
Cyteys,  castellys,  and  all  townys, 
And  quha  that  time  wes  lywand, 
Tha  landys  than  inhabytand  ; 
And  hale  off  all  thai  regyownys, 
Kynrykys,  cyteis,  men  and  townys 
He  thoucht  trewage  for  to  tak, 
And  ger  thame  homage  till  hym  mak.  2510 

Apon  that  in  hy  he  sent 
Hys  byddyng  and  his  mawndement, 
All  kynrykys,  and  all  regyownys, 
All  cyteis,  and  all  othire  townys, 
And  all  the  men  that  duelt  thare-in, 
Yhong  and  auld,  batht  mare  and  myn, 
To  wryt  wp  ilkane  in  tyll  roll, 
And  regystere  thaim  be  name  and  poll, 
And  efftyre  that,  but  mare  abade 
Fra  sowmownys  had  bene  to  thaim  made,         2520 
Ilk4  man  to  that  cyte", 
Quharoff  beforne  that  borne  wes  he, 
Or  ellys  to  that  ilke"  towne 
That  cheffe  ware  off  that  regyown, 
Suld  cum,  and  thare,  for  his  polle 
[To]  pay  his  trewage  or  his  tolle 
Off  qwhyt  sylver,  a  denere, 
In  nowmyre  ten  that  sowndys  here, 
A  denere  comwnaly 

Is  in  oure  langage  a  penny,  2530 

Bot  that  denere  that  thai  suld  pay 


CH.  XXVL]  OF  SCOTLAND.  265 

Suld  have  bene  intyll  walu  ay 
Ten  pennys  usualis  than 
That  in  to  Eome  for  mone  ran, 
Havand  the  empryowrys  crown, 
Hys  ymage,  and  his  scriptyown ; 
That  [thai]  suld  have  bene  in  knawlage, 
And  taknyng  hale  off  thare  homage. 
That  thai  suld  aw  to  Eome,  off  det, 
Sen  thai  ware  made  till  it  subjet,  2540 

And  that  sum  callyd  professyowne, 
And  sum  it  callid  discriptyoune  : 
Professiowne  in  propyrte 
Mouth  grawntyng  suld  callyd  be; 
For  quhen  thai  payid  thare  trewage, 
Wyth  mowth  thai  grawntyt  thare  homage, 
And  outh  ilk[a]  manuys  polle 
Hys  name  wes  wryttyn  and  his  toll : 
Discriptyowne  is  wrytyng 

In  tyll  owre  propyr  wndoyng,  2550 

For  all  thare  namys  wryttyn  ware 
That  payid  toll,  bayth  les  and  mare, 
F.  71.  b.     And  yhit  ilke  kynryk,  land,  and  towne, 
By  tha  layid  thaire  trewage  downe ; 
In  cyteys,  mayre  or  aldyrman, 
At  thai  bodyis  fyrst  began, 
And  ilke*  man  cauld  be  hys  crowne, 
And  gert  hym  lay  his  trewage  downe ; 
Syne  in  the  cyteis  off  the  land 
Wes  certayne  deputys  resaywand  2560 

Off  all  the  landys  syne  ilkane, 
Wytht-in  Eome  wes  the  trewage  tane. 
On  this  wyis  batht  land  and  towne ' 
Tyll  Eome  made  contributyoune, 
And  Cesare  August,  lord  and  syre, 


266  THE  CRONYKIL  [B.  IV. 

Aucht  all  the  warld  in  ane  empyre : 

Sa  excellent  off  bewte* 

Till  ilke  mannys  sycht  wes  he, 

That  to  [bejhald  hym  increly 

Men  had  gret  lykyn  comownaly ;  2570 

Sa  happy  als  he  wes  in  deyd 

That  all  thyng  at  his  lykyng  yheid, 

And  till  his  purpos  and  his  thoucht 

At  ese  hys  wyll  in  all  wes  wroucht. 

The  senatowrys  all  hale,  for-thi, 

Ga,we  hym  for  counsall  fermly, 

Oure  all  the  warld  in  hy  that  he 

A  God  suld  ger  hym  callyd  be. 

Bot  he  kest  welle  in  tyll  hys  thoucht 

A  dedly  man  sen  he  was  wroucht,  2580 

Off  hym  he  had  a  Creatoure 

That  aucht  off  resoune  that  honowre ; 

And  till  wsurpe  till  hym  that  name 

It  ware  bot  wane  glore  and  deffame. 

Swa  fra  he  herd  thare  intente 
And  efftyr  thare  awysment 
Sybyll  Tyburtyne  in  hy 
He  cald,  and  tald  hyr  halyly 
Off  the  senatowrys  the'  intent 
And  quhat  was  thare  awysment.  2590 

The  space  off  thre  days  than  in  hy 
Scho  askyd  to  byd  in  hyr  study, 
And  thai  thre  dayis  in  hard  fastyng 
Scho  bade  [and]  in  tyll  thra  praying, 
And  syne  in  tyll  hyr  prophecy 
Scho  made  efftyre  that  study 
Judicii  Signum  in  to  wers, 
Bot  thai  ar  lang  now  to  rehers. 

The  Empryoure  syne  till  the  hycht, 

\ 


CH.  xxvi.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  267 

Scho  gert  behald,  and  swylk  a  lycht  2600 

Hym  wmbelappyd  in  that  place 
That  gretly  affrayid  [than]  he  wes ; 
Syne  he  sawe  a  madyn  fayre 
Apone  ane  awtere  in  the  ayre, 
And  a  lytill  barne  allsua 
Haldyn  in  hyr  harmys  twa. 
And  quhill  he  ferlyde  off  that  sycht, 
He  herd  a  woice  that  sayd  [hym]  rycht, 
"  Yhone  thow  wyt  wyth-owtyne  hune, 
The  awtere  is  off  Goddis  swne ;"  2610 

And  to  the  erd  rycht  suddanly 
F-  72.         He  fell,  and  prayid  devotly. 

And  syne  the  senatowrys  gert  he  call, 

And  this  sycht  he  tauld  thaim  all, 

Quhar-off  thai  ferlyd  gretly  : 

That  chawmbyre  syne  he  gert  devotly, 

In  honowre  off  that  madyn  fre, 

And  off  that  barne  als  halowyd  be ; 

For  thare  he  saw  that  wysyowne 

That  raysid  his  dewotyoune;  2620 

Thare,  in  a  kyrk  off  oure  Lady, 

Frere  Mynowris  now  devotly 

Wytht-in  the  Capytolle  alway 

Serwys  God,  bathe  nycht  and  day, 

And  that  kyrk  fowndyt  in  that  place 

Syne  Ara  Co&li  callyd  was. 

Bot  quhen  the  contributyowne 
Wes  payid,  bathe  off  land  and  towne, 
Off  Nazareth  and  Galele 

Joseph,  that  tyme  in  Jwde,  2630 

Past  to  the  cyte"  off  Dawy, 
Wytht  hys  spowsyd  myld  Mary, 
Bethleem  callyd  in  that  quhille, 


268  THE  CllONYKIL  OF  SCOTLAND.          [B.  IV. 

For  off  that  hous  and  that  famylle 

He  wes  off  kyn  and  off  renowne ; 

For-thi  thare  his  professyowne 

For  tyll  have  made  he  sped  hym  yharne, 

Wyth  hys  spows  gret  wame  wytht  barne ; 

Bot  all  the  innys  evryilkane, 

Or  thai  come  to  the  towne  wes  tane;  2640 

And  thare  than  wes  sic  a  multitude, 

Wytht-in  the  town  off  men  and  gud, 

That  tyll  pure  men  it  wes  ill 

For  tyll  get  herbry  to  thare  wyll ; 

Tharefor  Joseph  and  Mary 

Gat  wyth-in  hows  na  herbry. 

Bot  betwene  howsis  twa, 

Quhare  men  gert  a  pentys  ma, 

Tyll  hald  confabilatyoune, 

And  have  thaire  recreatyowne  2650 

In  mete  and  drynk,  and  thare  repayre, 

As  thare  delyte  wes  till  hawe  [thare] ; 

Or  for  chapmen  as  buthys  [makis] 

Till  oppyn  and  [to]  schaw  thare  pakkys ; 

Joseph,  wyth  Mary  his  spous, 

Hys  innys  tuk  in  swyk  a  hous ; 

And  thare-in  his  bestys  twa, 

Ane  ox  and  ane  ass  war  thai, 

Till  a  cryb  that  thare  he  made, 

Or  made  perchawns  he  fwndyn  hade,  2660 

He  band  wp,  and  gawe  thame  hay, 

And  that  ilk[a]  nycht,  or  day, 

That  madyn  Mary  bare  that  byrth, 

That  caus  wes  off  all  oure  myrth. 


THE     FYFT     BUKE 


OF  THE 


ORYGYNALE    CRONYKIL 

OF   SCOTLAND. 


[  271  ] 


Egtlis  of  tfje  tfsft  Bufce. 


i.       OFF  the  byrth  off  Jhesu  Cryst. 
F.72.b.       ii.      Off  Tyberyus  dayis. 

iii.    Off  Claudius  and  Gayus  dayis. 
iiii.  Off  Nero  and  his  dayis. 
v.      Off  Tytus  and  Waspasiane. 
vi.     Off  Anaclete. 

Off  Trajane. 
vii.    Off  Alexandyr  and  Adriane. 

Off  the  Pape  Syxte. 

Off  the  Pape  Thelesfore. 

Off  Anton  the  Mylde. 

Off  Pape  Ingny  ws. 

Off  the  Pape  Pyus. 

Off  Marcus  Antonius  Empryowre. 
viii.  Quhen  fyrst  conwertyd  was  Brettaue. 

Off  the  Empyroure  Comodus. 

Off  the  Pape  Wyctore. 

Off  the  Pape  Zepheryne. 

Off  the  Pape  Poutyane. 
ix.     Off  the  Empyrowre  Philipe. 

Off  the  Pape  Cornelle. 

Off  the  Pape  Syxt. 

Off  the  Pape  Dynys. 

Off  the  Pape  Cayus. 

Off  the  Pape  Marcellyne. 

Off  the  Pape  Marcell. 

Off  the  Pape  Ewsebyus. 
x.      Off  the  Pape  Sylvestere. 


[  272  ] 

Off  the  Tyrand  Maxentius. 

Off  Maximiane. 

Quhen  thai  off  Dace  and  Sythy  arrywyd  in  Bret- 
tane. 

Quhen  the  Eomanys  gawe  wp  the  suppowale  off 
Brettan. 

Off  the  Pape  Marcus. 

Off  Constans  and  Constantyne  Empyrouris. 

Off  Jwlyane  the  Apostata. 

Off  Felix  and  Damasus  Papis. 

Off  the  Pape  Syrycius. 

Off  the  Empryowris  Galyene  and  Gracayne. 
xi.      Off  Theodos  and  Saynt  Ambros. 

Off  the  Pape  Anastacyus. 
xii.      Off  the  fyrst  Pape  Innocent. 

Quhen  Saynt  Palady  come  in  Scotland. 

Off  the  fyrst  Pape  Benete. 
xiiii.   Off  Saynt  Gregore  the  gret  Doctore. 


THE  FYFT  BUKE 


OF  THE 


OBYGYNALE    CEONYKIL 
OF   SCOTLAND. 


Jiext  foloiwanti  $e  sail  luft 
$roloufl  off  tfje  fgft  23ufce, 


F.  73.  EOSIUS  apon  syndry  wys 

Tyll  Baby  lone  Eome  paryfyis  : 

Off  Babylone  the  storys  hale 

Era  Nynus  tais  orygynale  ; 

And  off  Eome  the  storys  tays 

Thare  begynnyng  fra  Procays 

The  fadyr  off  Amylius, 

And  forfadyre  tyll  Eomulus. 

Era  the  fyrst  yhere  that  Nynus  Kyng 

Had  Babylon  in  governyng,  10 

Tyll  it  wes  stuffyd  plentwsly, 

And  kyrnelyd  abowt  propyrly 

Throucht  Symyram[us]  the  Qweyne, 

As  yhe  hawe  herd  me  befor  meyne, 

Gane  wes  foure  and  sexty  yhere. 

Eycht  swa  in  to  the  lyk  manere 

Era  the  fyrst  yhere  at  Procas 

In  Eome  begowth  and  regnand  was, 
VOL.  I.  « 


274  THE  CBONYKIL  [B.  V. 

Or  Eomule  made  hade  the  Cyte* 

Thre  scor  and  foure  yhere  gane  wes  fre.  20 

Arbace  als  the  Kyng  off  Mede, 

Off  qwham  before  yhe  herd  me  rede, 

Ryfflyd  Babylon  that  yhere, 

That  Procas  in  Rome  begouth  to  stere. 

Sa,  as  Oros[ius]  signyfyis, 

The  West  kynryk  begouth  to  rys, 

As  the  Est  begouth  to  fayle 

Be  infortwne  and  hard  batayle ; 

Quhare  throuch  the  Warld  is  halyly 

Now  redact  in  a  Monarchy,  30 

And  subject  tyll  ane  empyre, 

And  a  man  off  it  lorde  and  syre. 

Swa  now  my  purpos  and  my  wille, 
Gywe  God  wyll  grawnt  hys  grace  thare  till, 
Standys  halyly  for  to  schawe, 
And  clenly  to  ger  yhow  knawe 
All  the  caus  materyalle 
Off  the  dowbyll  governale, 
Quhare  wes  wount  to  governyd  be 
Bathe  the  Warld  and  the  Cyte\  40 

Off  this  dowbyll  governale 
The  grettast  is  the  Spyrytuale ; 
The  Temporalle  is  the  les,  but  lete. 
Thir  are  the  twa  gret  lychtis  set 
In  myddys  off  the  firmament, 
That  oysis  for  to  represent, 
And  to  mynystyr  thare  serwys 
Tyme  be  tyme,  and  thare  offyis. 
The  grettare  lycht  is  for  the  day, 
And  for  the  nycht  the  les  alway.  50 

Thir  twa  statis  gret  allsua 


PROL.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  275 

Sygnyfyis  thai  swerdys  twa, 
Quhareoff  the  specyall  mentyowne 
Wes  sayd  in  Crystis  Passyowne, 
"  Lord,  lo !  now  twa  swerdis  here." 
"  Ynoch  ar  thai,"  wes  his  ansuere. 
In  to  the  Pape  is  the  honowre, 
F.  73.  b.         The  state,  the  wyrschype,  and  the  cure 
Off  the  grettest  governale ; 

And  off  the  les  state  syne  all  hale  60 

The  soverane  is  the  Empriowre 
Be  worschype,  tytill,  and  honowre. 
Swa  now  remanys  for  till  telle, 
How  fyrst  that  thare  begynnyng  fell. 


[(Explicit 


276  THE  CRONYKIL  [B.  V. 


CHAP.   I. 

z  tiext  fxrlcrtoan!b.e  $ht  sail  rtb* 
Cri0ti0  bgrth  attb  his  banthtbe. 


A.D.       r^ 
Vy 


i.         VyESARE  August  Octovyane, 

Quhen  that  fourty  yhere  and  ane 
Off  his  empyre  wes  passyde  clere, 
Wytht-in  the  twa  and  fourtyd  yhere 
Apon  the  Sonondayis  nycht 
Mary  myld,  the  madyn  brycht, 
But  [threttyng],  thrawyng,  or  discs, 
Or  ony  smyt,  delyveryd  wes 
Off  hyr  a  Sown,  [bath]  God  and  Man  ; 
That  chyld  wes  tane  and  swelyd  than,  10 

And  in  a  cryb  syne  layde  he  was 
Quhar  that  ane  ox  stud  and  ane  as, 
And  thai  twa  bestys  devotly 
On  kneys,  as  wytnes  the  story, 
Kend  thare  wes  thaire  creatoure, 
Quhare-for  thai  dyd  hym  that  honowre 
That  on  kneys  ay  ware  thai 
Syttand,  qwhill  that  he  thare  lay. 
The  modyr  held  bed  in  gysyne, 
But  dowt  yhit  wes  scho  pure  wyrgyne.  20 

He  name  and  circumsysown, 
And  scho  puryficatyown, 
Tuk,  the  tyme  that  ordanyd  wes 
Be  the  lauch  statute  off  Moyses, 
And  the  barne  wes  Jhesu  cauld, 
As  the  Angelle  befor  tauld  ; 


On.  i.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  277 

Swa  thai  held  and  kepyd  welle 

All  the  lawys  ilk[a]  dele. 

Oure  Lord  [Jhesu]  thus  wes  borne 

To  sauff  oure  lyff  that  wes  forlorne.  30 

Beyhond  Tybere,  as  I  herd  telle, 
Owte  off  the  erd  thare  sprang  a  well 
Off  clere  oylye,  fayr  and  gud, 
Quhare  quhylum  a  famous  tawerne  stude ; 
And  all  that  day  in  gret  copy 
That  well  ran  owre  habowndanly. 
A  cyrkyll  abowte  the  Sone  that  day 
Wes  sene  als,  as  I  herd  say, 
That  tyll  ane  arche  off  hewyn  wes 
Apperand  lyk  on  lyklynes.  40 

That  ilk  nycht,  as  I  herd  telle, 
In  Eome  that  gret  Tempyll  fell, 
That  quhen  the  Eomanys  twelff  yhere 
In  pes  and  quyete  lywand  were, 
In  the  honowre  off  Eomule  fre, 
Off  fyne  entaylle  gert  fowndyd  be, 
And  off  this  Eomule  a  fygowre 
Off  hewys  fyne  and  fayre  payntoure, 
F.  74.         And  othir  symulacrys  sere 

Off  ydolys  that  than  honoryd  were,  50 

Thai  set  in  to  that  Tempyll  fayre, 

Quhare  thai  mad  access  and  repayre, 

For  to  mak  thare  sacrifyis 

To  thai  mawmentys  on  thare  wyis, 

Wyth  dewote  solempnyte 

And  wsuale  festyvyte. 

This  Tempyle  tytlyde  wes  off  Pes, 

For  quhen  fyrst  it  fowndyt  wes, 

Tyll  Appollo,  thair  orysowu 


278  THE  CRONYKIL  [B.  V. 

Thai  made  wyth  gud  dewotyown,  60 

Certane  knawlage  for  to  get 

How  lang  tyme  that  that  Tempyll  set 

And  fowndyd,  in  till  [the]  honowre 

Off  all  thai  rnawmentys,  suld  endowre 

And  fermly  stand  in  to  that  plas. 

Off  Appollyne  the  answere  was, 

That  that  Tempyll  [sulde]  endure 

Ay  quhill  that  a  wyrgyne  pure 

Suld  here  a  barne  off  hyr  body, 

Thare-off  the  Eomanys  had  ferly.  70 

Noucht  for-thi  thai  gert  full  tyte 

Wytht  gret  lettrys  brokyn  wryte 

Outh  the  dure  at  the  entre", 

Quhare  thai  mycht  clerly  red  and  se, 

TEMPLUM  PACIS  ETERNUM  ;  ay 

Thir  thre  wordys  ar  to  say, 

The  Tempill  off  Pes  wyth-owtyn  end. 

Bot  quhen  Goddis  Sone  wes  send 

In  tyll  oure  kyth,  as  yhe  hard  telle, 

That  Tempyll  and  thare  fals  goddys  fell,  80 

And  thai  symulacrys  all 

Ware  fruschyd  and  brokyn  in  pecis  small. 

Off  the  Oryent  Kyngys  thre, 
Ilkane  sere  in  thaire  cuntre", 
Be  ane  starne  apperand  newe, 
Than  borne  the  Kyng  off  Jowys  knewe  ; 
For  that  resowne  thare  wayage 
Thai  tuk  in  dewote  pylgrirnage, 
Qwhill  thai  come  till  Jerusalem  : 
Fra  thine  thai  passyd  till  Bethleem  ;  90 

Thare,  to  the  Sone  off  the  wyrgyne, 
Myr,  and  sens,  and  gold  sa  fyne, 


CH.  I.  OF  SCOTLAND.  279 

In  gret  devotyoune  offeryd  thai, 

Be-efft  hys  byrth  the  thretten  day ; 

And  quhen  thai  mad  had  thaire  offerande 

Hame  agayne  in  to  thare  land, 

By  Jerusalem,  passyd  thai, 

As  thai  war  warnyd,  ane  othir  way. 

And  how  than  Herrode  had  consaywyde 

Throuch  thaim  that  he  wes  dyssaywyde,  100 

Quharfore  the  Innocentys  he  gert  be 

All  slayne  throuch  his  iniqwyte* ; 

Haly  Kyrk  prechys  clere 

In  to  the  wangyll  ilk[a]  yhere ; 

For  that  resowne  now  will  I 

Oure  pas  it  here  the  mar  lychtly. 

In  Scotland  that  yhere  Taram  ras, 
F.  74.  b,      And  oure  [the]  Peychtis  regnand  was 
A  hundyr  yhere  as  crownyd  kyng. 
And  quhen  his  lyff  had  tane  endyng,  110 

Duchyl  ras  as  kyng  with  crowne, 
And  regnand  be  successyowne. 
Bot  off  thaire  douchty  dedis  sere 
I  fynd  noucht  for  to  wryt  in  here. 

Kymbelyne  of  Tenwant 
The  sone  and  ayre  was  than  regnant 
As  kyng  wytht  crowne  off  all  Brettane. 
Before  that  wytht  Octovyane 
He  nwrysyd  wes,  till  hys  barnehede 
Was  passyd,  and  entry de  in  manhede,  120 

And  dyde  gret  prowes  and  bownte* 
In  all  kyn  were  or  jowrn^, 
And  tuk  syne  off  that  Empyrowre 
The  ordyr  off  knychthed  wytht  honowre : 
To  thame  off  Rome,  for  that  resowne, 


280 


THE  CKONYKIL  [B.  V. 

He  stud  in  swylk  effectyowne, 

That  in  the  tyme,  quhen  he  wes  kyng, 

And  Brettane  had  in  governyng, 

His  barnage  hale  sayd,  that  he  mycht 

Wythhald  the  trewage  wytht  all  rycht,  130 

That  Julyus  Cesare  before  wan, 

And  payid  was  till  Octovyan. 

Agayne  the  wyll  off  his  barnage 

Till  Eome  he  payid  that  trewage : 

For  that  wyth  his  the  were  wes  he 

Comendyt  in  to  all  degre. 

And  that  ilke  yhere  alsua 
Joseph  passyd  and  Maria 

In  till  Egypt ;  and  sewyn  yhere 

Thare  wytht  the  Barne  thai  duelland  were.         HO 

Off  his  dedys  in  that  quhylle 

Fewe  I  find  in  the  wangylle : 

Bot  quha  that  lykys  for  to  rede 

In  tyll  a  Buk  off  his  barnhede, 

He  sail  fynd  how  be  the  way, 

As  wndyrneth  a  palme  thai  lay 

At  ese  to  slepe,  or  rest  thaim  thare 

As  pilgrymys  that  for-tyryd  ware, 

The  mudyre  makles  off  that  chylde, 

Mary  brycht,  the  madyn  myld,  150 

Was  in  till  scharpe  hungyr  set, 

And  had  gret  appetyt  till  ete 

The  crope  thare  off  that  palme  tre, 

That  datys  bare  in  gret  plente ; 

Quhill  scho  was  in  [to]  that  thrawe 

Wyth-all  the  buwys  bowyd  lawe, 

Ewyn  till  hyr  hand,  swa  at  hyr  wyll 

Datys  scho  pullyd  and  ete  hyr  fyll ; 


CH.  L]  OF  SCOTLAND.  281 

Syne  as  wytht  lewe,  but  brayd  or  bend, 

Ewyn  as  before  stud  wp  on  end.  1 60 

That  tyme  alsua  Joseph  thare 

In  tyll  hard  thryst  was  noyit  sare, 

Bot  off  [the]  erd  sone  sprang  a  welle 

Quhare-[of]  Joseph,  as  I  herd  tell, 

Drank  his  fyll  off  wattyr  clere. 

Thare-efftyr,  as  thai  herbryd  were 
In  tyll  a  gret  cove  and  a  depe, 
F.  75.       Or  thai  begouth  to  fall  on  slepe, 
Off  that  cove,  all  suddanly, 

Twa  gret  dragownys  and  wgly  170 

Euschyd  owte ;  thare  Mary  wes 
And  Joseph  bathe  in  gret  radness ; 
Bot  thai  twa  wyld  bestys  kene, 
Era  that  thai  the  child  had  sene, 
As  thai  had  chastyid  bene  wyth  awe, 
Kest  downe  amang  thare  lymmys  lawe 
Thare  hedys,  and  syne  wyth  gud  speyd 
Till  wyldyrnes  away  thai  yheyd. 
Era  thine  till  Egipte  in  tyll  hy, 
As  Joseph  passyd  and  Mary,  1 80 

A  lyowne  thaim  kepyd  be  the  way, 
That  serwysiabyll  wes  to  thaim  ay. 
In  tyll  the  land  quhill  thai  ware  fre, 
And  in  it  as  thai  mad  entre, 
Off  Egypte  hale  the  templis  all 
Fell  and  brak  in  pecis  small, 
[And]  all  the  ydolys  evryilkane, 
That  hale  in  to  that  land  wes  nane 
Tempill  standand  off  walu, 

Na  off  nane  ydole  a  statu.  190 

Thir  myrakyllis  wryttyn  yhe  ma  red 


282  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  V. 

In  till  a  buk  off  his  barnehed. 
Fra  thine  Joseph  and  Mary 
In  Egypt  duelt  contynualy 
Sevyn  yhere,  quhill  the  Angell  brycht 
Apperyd  till  Joseph  on  a  nycht 
In  till  his  slepe,  and  bad  hym  ta 
The  Modyr,  and  the  Barne  alsua, 
And  pas  in  Israelle  agayne, 

"  For  thai,"  he  sayd,  "  that  wald  have  slayne     200 
The  chyld,  ar  dede."     Than  he,  but  hone, 
All  as  the  Angell  bad  has  done ; 
Bot  for  cans,  as  the  story  sayis, 
That  Archelaus  in  thai  dayis, 
The  quhilk  brodyre  that  tyme  wes 
Till  Herrode,  full  off  wykytnes, 
Off  Jerusalem,  as  kyng 
And  lord,  had  all  the  governyng, 
And  dwelt  in  it  contynualy ; 
For-thi,  Joseph  and  Mary  210 

Past  wytht  the  barne  by  that  cyte* 
TiU  Nazareth  in  Galele" ; 
In  that  cyte"  than  fywe  yhere 
Wytht  the  Chyld  thai  duelland  were, 
That  grew  off  wyt  and  wertu  than, 
And  plesyd  batht  till  God  and  man. 

Swa  twelf  yhere  quhen  he  wes  auld, 
As  Saynt  Luke  in  his  ewangyll  tauld, 
In  Jerusalem,  amang  the  gret 
Mastrys  off  lawe,  that  held  thare  set  220 

In  to  the  Tempyll,  for  to  schawe 
The  casys  as  thai  stud  in  the  lawe, 
He  sat,  and  wes  rycht  diligent 
Till  here,  and  mad  sic  argument 


CH.  i.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  283 

That  all  that  herd  and  stude  hym  by 
F.  75.  b.      Off  hys  wyt  had  gret  ferly. 
j'4  '  And  efftyr  hys  natyvyte, 

Quhen  fourtene  yhere  wes  passyd  fre, 

Octovyane  the  empryowre 

Deyd  in  Eome  wytht  gret  honoure,  230 

Quhen  that  sex  and  fyfty  yhere 

Off  his  empyre  were  passyd  clere ; 

Ale  the  warld,  as  I  sayd  ere, 

He  mayd  to  Eome  tributere ; 

In  hys  begynnyng  the  cite" 

All  abowte  off  Eome  fand  he 

Wytht  dykys  made  off  fayle  or  mude, 

Bot,  or  he  deyd,  off  marbyr  gude, 

Witht  syment,  lyme,  or  wytht  hewyn  stane, 

He  made  the  wallis  evryilkane ;  240 

Off  citesanys  and  burges  fre, 

He  left  duelland  in  that  cyt4 

Fowr  hundyr  thousand  nynty  sys, 

And  fourty  thousand  reknyd  twys, 

As  sayis  Frere  Martyne  in  his  buke, 

Quha  wyll  his  Cornyklys  rede  and  luke : 

Yhit  set  he  wes  off  this  bownte", 

He  wes  noucht  off  all  vycys  fre, 

For  he  hade  in  usage  offt 

Amang  twelff  maydynnys,  yhong,  and  sofft        250 

Off  hyd,  and  fayre  off  hew,  to  ly 

In  lykyng,  lust,  and  lychory. 


284  THE  CEONYKIL  B.V. 


CHAP.   II. 

next  (ithapitere  totll  tell 
Cjjtohat  in  Tiberias  fcagi*  felle. 

15.         JL  HE  fyftende  yhere  efftyre  that  byrth, 
That  causyd  all  oure  mekyll  myrth, 
Off  Home  Tyberius  empryoure, 
Nest  till  Octovyane  successoure, 
His  wyffis  sone  off  lauchfull  bede, 
And  had  till  wyff  hys  douchtyr  lede ; 
For  caus  off  that  and  hys  bownte* 
Octovyane  yharnyd  hym  to  be  260 

Hys  ayre  and  his  neyst  successoure ; 
Swa  fell  that  he  wes  emperyowre, 
And  ras  off  Rome  bath  lord  and  syre, 
And  stoutly  governyd  the  empyre ; 
In  deyd  he  doure  wes  and  douchty, 
And  in  till  arrays  welle  happy, 
Kunnand,  and  off  lettr[at]owre  fyne, 
Bot  sle  and  dowtus  off  engyne. 
Quhen  men  wald  do  be  lyklynes 
Hys  wyll,  or  quhat  his  byddyng  wes,  270 

In  frawde  and  swylk  offt  walde  he  say 
That  that  hym  lykyd  be  na  way, 
And  ger  the  doarys  punysyd  be 
Throuch  wykytnes  and  crualte ; 
He  wes  rycht  pert  and  eloqwent, 
And  full  austere  in  jugement, 
Curtays  he  wes  in  tyll  his  deyd ; 
In  cornyklys  sere  off  hym  we  reid 


CH.  IL]  OF  SCOTLAND.  285 

F.  76.         That  quhen  hys  procuratowrys  ordanyd  he 

In  his  nedis  to  passand  be,  280 

Seldyn  revocatyowne 

He  mayd  off  that  commyssyowne ; 

He  wald  offt  gere  pyne  and  sla 

Thewys,  and  sakles  men  alsua  ; 

He  tuk  the  trewage  off  Brettane 

That  Julyus  Cesare  before  wane ; 

He  regnyd  twenty  yhere  and  thre ; 

In  Chawmpayne  syne  quhen  deide  wes  he 

Fele  folk  glad  ware  and  [richt]  joly, 

And  few  for  that  cas  wes  sary.  290 

Off  Crystys  dedis  in  that  quhille 
Few  I  fynd  in  the  Ewangylle, 
Tyll  that  tyme  that  he  howyn  wes, 
Bot  as  Josephus  berys  wytnes  ; 
He  in  tyll  hys  story  sayis 
Thare  wes  a  wysman  in  thai  dayis, 
Gyff  men  mycht  wyth  resowne  all 
In  propyrt^  a  man  hym  call, 
Off  marwelus  and  gret  dedys  sere, 
He  wes  bathe  doare  and  kennere,  300 

And  mony  off  Jowys  and  Gentyl 
Till  hym  he  drewe  in  till  that  quhille ; 
Cryste  that  was,  as  Josephus 
Signyfyis  in  tyll  hys  buk  till  ws. 

The  poete  Ovyde  in  hys  dayis 
Deyd  exilyd,  as  the  story  sayis. 
Off  hys  empyre  the  fyftende  yhere, 
3'0  '       And  fra  the  byrth  off  oure  Lorde  dere 
The  threttyd  yhere,  in  wyldyrnes, 
Saynt  Jhon  the  Baptyst  prechand  wes.  310 

Pylat  off  Powns  procuryd  to  be 


286  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  V. 

Chyfftane  and  prynce  off  all  Jwde ; 
Off  Powns  he  lord  wes  beforne, 
Bot  men  sayd  at  he  wes  borne 
Off  Lyownys,  in  to  Frans,  sur  Eone. 
That  yhere  als  off  Baptyst  Jhon 
Jhesu  Cryst,  as  sayde  the  Buke, 
The  baptysme  in  till  Jordane  tuke, 
And  the  neyst  yhere  efftyr  syne 
He  turnyd  the  wattyre  clere  in  wyne.  320 

Saynct  Jhon  the  Baptyst  als  wes  tane, 
And  efftyre  that  a  yhere  owre  gane, 
Throuch  foly  gret  and  crualte, 
Herrode  gert  hym  hevydyd  be. 
Than  off  Tyberius  empryowre 
Pylate  wes  made  procuratoure 
And  specyall  depute  in  Jwde", 
Sa  fell  that  wndyre  his  powste* 
Cryst  tholyd  thare  [his]  passiowne, 
And  mad  his  resurrectyowne,  330 

3'3  '        Quhen  that  thretty  yhere  and  thre 
Were  gane  fra  his  natyvyte ; 
And  in  till  August  off  that  yhere 
Saynct  Stewyn  was  stanyde  to  dede,  but  were. 
That  ilke*  yhere  alsua  Saule 
F.  76.  b.     Convertyd,  and  was  callyd  Paule. 
The  empryoure  Tyber  eftyr  that, 
Quhen  that  he  full  wyttyng  gat 
That  Jhesu  Cryst  to  dede  wes  done, 
He  gert  send  efftyr  [Pilate]  sone,  340 

And  in  hys  presens  hym  gert  he 
Off  jugement  fals  accusyde  be, 
Bot  efftyre  thai  accusatyownys, 
Ande  his  fals  excusationis, 


CH.  II.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  287 

Tyll  Vyen  in  tyll  Burgoyne  he 

Hym  send,  and  gert  hym  presownyt  be  ; 

Quhare  lang  he  bad  in  pyne  and  care, 

And  slwe  hym-self  for  sorow  thare. 

Herrode  als  that  slwe  that  Jhone 

Exylide  he  gert  be  onone  350 

Tyll  Vyen  in  till  Burgoyne  als, 

Wytht  his  wyff,  bayth  fell  and  fals, 

Herodyade,  and  thai  twa 

Wrachytly  thare  deyde  alsua. 

Efftyr  the  Eesurrectyowne 
Off  Cryst,  and  [his]  Ascensyowne, 
Saynt  Petyr  the  appostylle  fre, 
Borne  off  the  land  off  Galele* 
In  tyll  the  rew  Bethsayda, 

(He  wes  the  sone  off  Jhon  alsua,  360 

And  tyll  Saynt  Androw  brodyr  hale,) 
Past  in  the  landys  Oryentale, 
And  in  thai  landys  than  held  he 
Foure  yhere  full  the  prestis  8e", 
And  thare  he  sang  the  fyrst  Mes 
That  in  the  warld  evyre  sungyn  wes ; 
And  in  that  Mes  wes  said  na  mare, 
Bot  the  PATER  NOSTER  thare. 

Tyberius  in  that  tynie  wes  dede, 
And  Gayus  ras  in  till  his  stede,  370 

This  ilke*  Gayus  wes  alsua 
Be  surname  callyd  Gallicula. 
Off  the  empyr  lord  wes  he 
Bot  monethys  ten,  and  yherys  thre, 
And  awcht  days,  hot  he  wes 
111  wycyous,  full  off  wykytnes, 
Off  gret  lust  and  off  lychory : 


288  THE  CRONYKIL  [B.  V. 

Hys  awyn  twa  systyrys  he  lay  by. 

A  dochtyr  on  ane  off  thai  he  gat, 

And  that  he  lay  by  efftyre  that ;  380 

He  nurre"  [was]  and  newew  nere 

Tyll  the  lord  off  Rome  Tybere ; 

In  crualte  and  avaryce 

And  mony  odyr  syndry  wyce, 

Sa  lang  he  wedyde,  quhill  he  was 

Slayne  wytht  his  men  in  his  palas. 

All  thus  quhen  dede  wes  Gayus, 

Till  hym  succedyd  Claudyus, 

That  the  empyre  fourtene  yhere 

Governyd,  and  sevyn  moneth  clere,  390 

And  auchtene  dayis  fullyly. 

Saynt  Petyr  that  tyme  [coym]  in  hy 
In  Antyoche  off  the  Oryent, 
Thare  sevyn  yhere  in  gud  entent 
He  bade,  and  helde  the  prestys  s^ ; 
F.  77.         Syne  fra  thine  to  Rome  past  he 

As  byschope  thare  and  prest  his  lywe 
Twenty  yhere  he  led,  and  fywe, 
And  dayis  awcht,  till  halde  the  date. 
Twa  pystyllys  off  canowne  thare  he  wrate ;         400 
In  Septembyre  than  ordanyd  he 
Ordyrys  ilke*  yhere  to  be, 
Thare  byschypys  sex,  and  prestys  ten, 
And  deknys  sevyn,  he  ordanyt  then. 
40.  The  fourtyde  yhere  efftyr  that  byrth 

That  made  owre  joy  and  all  oure  myrth, 
The  ewangelyst  Saynt  Mathewe 
Made  and  wrat  hys  wangelys  newe  ; 
And,  efftyre  that  thre  yhere  alsua 
Hys  wangellys  Mark  begouth  to  ma,  410 


CH.  in.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  289 

And  Saynt  Petyr  wrat  thaim  thare 

For  he  before  was  his  scolare. 

In  hungyr  gret  that  ilk[a]  yhere 

The  Eonianys  all  anoyid  were. 

Appollynare  Saynt  Petyr  then 

Send  to  preche  in  tyll  Eaweu, 

That  wes  a  cyte"  gret  and  fayre, 

Comowne,  and  off  gret  repayre, 

In  Ytaly  pere  till  it  wes  nane, 

To  sawff  off  Eome  the  towne  allane.  420 


CHAR  III. 


Ofi  the 

Jfrxt  0UCCZ8&OT:  till  .Srhgr  (iagm 

/LAWDYTJS  the  empryoure, 
That  wes  tyll  Gayws  successoure, 
Off  hys  empyre  the  ferd  yhere 
In  Brettayne  come  wytht  hys  powere, 
Kymbolynys  [son]  than  Widen  kyng, 
That  Brettayne  had  in  governyng, 
Sone  assemblyd  ane  ost  in  hy, 
And  wytht  the  Romanys  stoutly 
Faucht,  and  put  thame  to  the  nycht, 
Quhare  mony  dowre  to  deyd  wes  dycht :  430 

And  quhill  thai  ware  in  to  that  cas, 
A  Romane,  that  amang  thaim  was 
Hamo  callyd,  gat  on  that  senyhe", 
That  Bretownys  bare ;  syn  can  he  fenyhe 
Hym  a  Brettowne  for  to  be, 
For  all  thare  langage  welle  kend  he : 
VOL.  I.  T 


290  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  V. 

Quhen  in  tyll  Home  ostagis  sere 
Of  all  landis  duelland  were, 
And  thai  off  Brettane  ostage  had, 
He  gret  repayre  amang  thaim  mad ;  440 

Be  sic  access  he  kend  welle, 
And  leryd  thare  langage  ilk[a]  dele. 
Sa  in  the  thrang  off  that  battaylle 
He  bare  hym  as  a  Brettane  hale, 
Quhyll  that  he  come  rycht  till  the  kyng, 
That  off  hym  had  na  myslywyng : 
That  kyng  off  Brettayne  thare  he  slwe, 
And  to  the  Koinanys  syne  he  drwe. 
F.  77.  b.          Arvyragus,  that  wes  then 

Brodyr  to  the  kyng  Wyden,  450 

And  saw  this  cas,  and  all  this  deyd, 

Gat  wpon  hym  ful  gud  spede 

All  hys  brodyr  armoure  hale, 

And  held  that  ward  in  the  batalle, 

That  [the]  kyng  hys  brodyr  had : 

Thare  fechtyng  stowt  and  hard  he  made, 

And  lete  hys  ost  wyt  nakyn  thyng 

Off  that  cas  fell  to  the  kyng, 

Quhill  mony  doure  to  dede  wes  dycht, 

And  all  the  Eomanys  tuk  the  flycht,  460 

And  Hamo  slayne.     In  till  that  chas 

The  empryowre  discumfyt  was. 

Sa,  to  tell  yhow  schortly 
The  endyng  off  this  juperdy, 
Quhen  Claudius  the  manhed  kend 
Off  the  Brettownys,  he  message  send 
Tyll  Arwyragus,  than  the  kyng 
That  Brettayne  had  in  governyng, 
For  till  amese  all  were  and  stryffe, 


CH.  IIL]  OF  SCOTLAND.  291 

And  tak  hys  dochtyr  till  hys  wyffe,  470 

And  to  Eowme  that  tribwte  pay 
Wytht-owtyn  drychyng  or  delay, 
That  the  Eomanys  before  wan 
Fra  hys  eldrys  off  Brettan. 

Till  this  assented  wes  the  kyng, 
And  sesyd  were,  and  mad  anyng : 
For  he  thoucht,  syne  that  generaly 
All  othir  landys  halyly 
Bade  wndyr  the  subjectyowne 
Off  Eome,  he  mycht  wyth-owt  chesowne  480 

That  trewage  to  the  Eomanys  pay, 
That  thai  had  tane  before  his  day. 
Swa,  now  schortly  to  mak  end, 
Schyre  Claudyus  for  his  dochtyre  send, 
And  Arwyragus  off  Brettane 
Weddyd  that  fayr  lady  than. 
Betwene  the  Eomanys  and  that  kyng 
All  thus  than  fell  the  fyrst  anyng. 

That  ilke  empyrowre  off  were 
Past  fra  thine  wytht  hys  powere  490 

The  Owte  Ylys  till  assaylle, 
And  wyth  hym  in  hys  suppowaylle 
That  kyng  passyd  off  Brettan, 
And  off  fors  the  Owte  Ylis  wan, 
And  maid  [thaim]  to  Eome  subjet  ay, 
And  gert  thaim  fra  thine  trybute  pay. 

How  that  empyrowr  thare-efft 
That  Kyng  hys  lutenand  lefft 
Off  all  the  landys,  that  marchyd  than 
Nere  wyth  the  kynryk  off  Brettan,  500 

Hame  tyll  Eome  quhen  that  he 
Agayne  passyd  wytht  hys  reawte ; 


292  THE  CRONYKIL  [B.  V. 

And  how  that  kyng  syiie  mad  delay, 
F.  78.        And  hale  denyit  for  to  pay 

Till  Rome  the  trewage  off  Brettane, 

Quhyll  Claudyus  send  Wespasyane 

Wytht  that  kyng  to  fecht  or  trete, 

Swa  that  for  luwe,  or  than  for  threte, 

Off  fors  he  suld  pay  at  he  awcht ; 

And  how  the  qweyne  thare  made  thame  saucht,    510 

The  Brute  tellys  it  sa  oppynly, 

That  I  wyll  lat  it  now  ga  by. 

This  empryowre  in  all  tyme  wes 
In  all  his  dedys  full  rekles, 
Na  he  couth  hald  in  na  memore 
The  thyngys  that  he  dyd  before. 
It  hapnyt  in  tyll  suddane  stryffe 
That  apon  cas  he  slwe  hys  wyff ; 
At  ewyn  to  bed  syne  quhen  he  past 
Quhy  sho  come  noucht,  he  askyt  fast.  520 

He  thoucht  till  ordane  and  till  ma, 
Be  statute,  quhen  men  suld  lat  ga 
Owte  off  thare  bodyis  ryfftys  off  wynd, 
At  mowth  before,  or  than  behynd ; 
For  in  to  Rome  off  cas  it  fell 
For  schame  a  man,  as  he  herd  tell, 
Forbare  for  tyll  [lat]  owt  the  wynd, 
Wyth  ryfft  before,  or  blyst  behynd, 
Swa  that  he  peryst  in  that  thrawe  ; 
Tharfor  he  thoucht,  quhen  men  suld  blawe,        530 
Tyll  ordane  tyme  be  statute  swa 
That  for  that  cas  [men]  suld  dey  na  ma. 
He  wes  the  mast  sobyr  man 
Off  mete  or  drynk  that  lywyd  than. 
Massalyne  wes  callyd  hys  wyff, 


CH.  IIL]  OF  SCOTLAND.  293 

Scho  spendyt  in  swylk  lust  hyr  iyff 
That  hyr  oys  was  comownaly 
In  bordale  nycht  and  day  to  ly, 
Off  that  play  [nevyr]  yrk  na  sad 
For  all  the  copy  at  scho  had,  540 

And  ladyis  sere  scho  tretyd  ay 
In  cumpany  to  prave  that  play. 
Yhit,  be  counsalle  off  this  wyff, 
That  thus  in  lust  led  all  hyr  Iyff, 
Hys  sone  and  hys  ayre  gert  he 
Off  the  empyre  desheryd  be, 
And  Nero,  that  had  hys  dochtyr  weddyt, 
And  lauchfully  wytht  hyr  had  beddyt, 
He  ordanyd  off  the  empyre 

Bathe  hys  ayre,  [and]  lord  and  syre  ;  550 

And  that  wes  done  agane  the  lawe 
For  luwe  off  woman,  or  for  awe. 
Saynt  Petyr,  as  the  story  says, 
Fyrst  come  to  Rome  in  till  his  dayis,  • 
Thare  ordanyt  he  befor  Pas  day 
F.  78.  b.      The  Lentryne  to  be  fastyt  ay 

Off  fourty  dayis,  syne  wox  thre, 

And  the  ferd  part  ordanyd  he 

All  Crystyne  man  in  fastyng  hald, 

That  war  full  fourtene  yhere  aide,  560 

Before  the  Natyvyte1 ; 

[That]  the  Adwent  now  call  we. 


294  THE  CRONYKIL  [B.  V. 


CHAP.   IV. 


(Dff  $.erxr2j0  igtne  anb 

Jtnb*  qtoha  next  [r*0]  in  to  thar* 


ERO  neyst  wes  successoure 
Till  Claudyus,  and  empryowre 
[He  wes]  off  gret  Eome  threttene  yhere, 
Audit  moneth,  and  a  day,  but  were. 
He  prowyd  welle  off  his  manhede 
Quhill  he  wes  knycht  in  till  yhouthede, 
Bot  fra  he  kend  hym  empryowre, 
He  excedyt  all  mesoure,  570 

And  worschype  chawngyd  in  tyrandry, 
Honowr  in  falshede  and  felny  ; 
He  gert  slay  off  the  senatowrys, 
That  off  det  ware  his  counsalowrys, 
A  gret  part,  and  alsua 
His  awyn  brodyr  he  gert  sla. 
All  Rome  he  set  in  tyll  a  fyre, 
A  low  off  that  for  to  se  schyre. 
Hys  modyr  oysyd  for  to  repruwe 
And  argwe  hym  wnkynd  off  luwe ;  580 

Till  hir  that  sufferyd  thrystys  sare, 
And  paynys  hard  quhen  scho  hym  bare, 
And  wes  in  dowt  off  hyr  lyff  ay 
Betwene  hyr  sydys  quhill  he  lay, 
But  pety  tharefor,  or  mercy, 
He  slwe  hyr  in  hys  tyrandry. 
Syne  he  gert  oppyn  hyr  and  owte  ta 
Hyr  bowellys,  and  sek  in  tha 


CH.  iv.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  295 

And  rype  [thaim]  all  cure,  theyk  and  thyne, 
To  ae"  the  place  that  he  lay  in.  590 

Off  Eome  syne  the  maystrys  all 
In  till  hys  presence  he  gert  call, 
And  bade  wytht  barne  thai  suld  hyni  ma, 
Or  than  thai  suld  thaire  lyff  for-ga. 
Than  efftyre  thaire  awysment 
Thai  gert  [hym]  apon  ane  assent 
In  tyll  a  drawcht  off  drynk  swelly 
A  paddog  yhong,  lyand  in  fry ; 
Thai  gert  hym  syne  in  mete  and  drynk 
Sic  mesoure  oys  as  thai  couth  thynk,  600 

Or  [be]  thare  crafftys  wndyrstude 
Mycht  have  bene  to  that  paddok  fude. 
Wytht  that  the  tad  begouth  to  wax, 
And  wyth-in  hym  rerde  and  rax, 
F.  79.         Syne  in  hys  body  gnyp  and  gnaw, 

And  gert  hym  offt  in  thrichis  thraw, 

And  in  tyll  perylle  wes  off  dede ; 

Than  off  that  dowt  to  get  remede 

He  gert  thai[m  the]  gret  clerkys  all 

Agayne  in  tyll  his  presens  call,  610 

And  bade  that  thai  suld,  apon  payne 

Off  all  thare  eyne,  or  to  be  slayne, 

Ger  hym  off  hys  barne  be, 

Bwt  lang  delay,  delyveryd  fre. 

Than  thai  behuwyd  for  to  fynd 

All  excusatyownys  put  behynd, 

Sum  crafft  to  lous  hym  off  his  payne, 

Or  all,  but  mercy,  to  be  slayne ; 

Wytht  a  drynk  than,  at  the  last, 

Owt  at  his  mouth  thai  gert  hym  cast  620 

That  paddog  wyth  a  blob  off  blude, 


296  THE  CEONYKIL  B.  V. 

Wan  made  all  but  fassown  gud. 

He  askyd  than  be  quhat  resown 

Hys  barne  sa  foule  was  off  fassown, 

And  thare  ansuere  was  that  tyde, 

For  he  couth  nouchb  his  [tyme]  byde, 

Na  lang  it  mycht  noucht  lest  in  lywe, 

For  [causse]  that  it  fell  abortywe  ; 

The  paddoge  dede  thare-efft  gert  he 

Wythin  a  towre  enteryd  be,  630 

The  quhilk  wes  made  off  lyme  and  staue 

In  to  that  rew  callyd  Laterane. 

He  wes  in  deid  all  fellowne, 
And  mad  gret  persecutyowne 
Off  Crystyn  men,  for  thare  fay 
Abhomynabill  he  had  alway. 
Off  Jacob  rychtwys  in  his  dayis, 
The  brothyr  off  God,  as  the  Buk  sayis, 
"Wyth  a  walkarys  perk,  but  dowt, 
The  harnys  all  war  strykyn  owte.  640 

He  gert  in  tyll  his  felny  sla 
Hys  awyn  maystyr,  Seneca, 
That  till  Saynt  Paule  wrat  letteris  sere, 
And  wes  tyll  hym  famwlere. 
He  leissit  the  trewage  off  Brettane, 
That  hys  eldrys  befor  wan, 
And  othir  allswa  kynrykys  sere, 
That  he  fand  till  Borne  tributere, 
Ran  in  till  prescriptyown 
Off  thare  contributyown.  650 

For  hys  ecces  [sa]  owtragews 
And  his  condytyown  wycwys, 
Saynt  Petyr  he  gert  crucify. 
And  off  Saynt  Paule,  in  his  felowny, 


CH.  iv.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  297 

He  gert  stryk  off  the  hewyd,  and  swa 
To  dede  he  put  thai  posstyllys  twa. 
Quhen  all  the  yherys  ware  cummyn  and  gane 
F.  79.  b.        Off  his  empyre  [for]  to,  sauff  ane, 
The  Grekys  than  set  tharae  thraly 
Away  till  have  tane  prewaly  660 

The  bodys  off  thai  postyllis  twa ; 
That  purpos  qwhill  thai  ware  on  swa, 
The  dewyllys  that  in  the  ydolys  ware 
Off  Goddys  wyll  and  hys  poware, 
Cryit  "  Yhe  Eomanys  succoure  nowe, 
For  yhoure  goddys  are  tane  fra  yhowe." 
The  Crystyn  men,  that  than  ware  gud, 
That  off  thai  postyllys  wndyrstude  ; 
Bot  the  pagaynys  thoucht  allway 
That  off  thare  goddys  that  sayd  thai.  670 

Wyth  that  the  Eomanys  halyly 
Chasyd  the  Grekys  dispytwosly ; 
Swa  the  Grekis  at  the  last 
Behuwyd  on  nede  thai  bodyis  cast 
In  tyll  a  cy stern  e  depe,  quhare  thai 
Lay  hyd,  but  wyttyng,  mony  day, 
Quhill  that  the  Pape  Cornelius, 
As  the  Cornykyll  tellis  ws, 
Drew  thame  off  that  cysterne  depe, 
And  honorably  gert  men  thame  kepe,  680 

Quhill  he  had  made  his  orysown 
Till  God,  wyth  gud  devotyoune, 
For  tyll  ken  hym  werraly 
Quhilk  wes  off  Petyr  the  body, 
And  quhilk  off  Saynt  Paule  mycht  be 
The  body  cald  in  propyrte. 
Devotly  sua  quhill  that  he  sat, 


298  THE  CKONYKIL  [B.V. 

Inspyryd  off  God,  ansuere  he  gat, 
That  the  largyare  body  wes 

Off  the  fyschare,  and  the  les  690 

Off  the  prechoure ;  syn  wes  sayde 
Pape  Silvestyr  gert  thame  be  layd 
In  till  weyis ;  swa  kend  wes  thare 
Quhilk  prechoure  wes,  and  quhilk  fyschare, 
And  off  ilkane  a  kirk  gert  he 
Honorably  syne  fowndyt  be ; 
And  off  Saynt  Petyr,  wyth  honoure, 
The  banys  he  put  in  sepultoure 
In  to  that  kyrk  wes  for  hym  made ; 
The  banys  off  Saynt  Paule  he  hade  700 

In  tyll  hys  kyrk,  and  thare  gert  he 
Entyre  thame  wyth  solempnyte. 
Off  Nero  yhit  the  empryoure, 
That  turnyd  in  till  foule  lust  his  honoure, 
For  na  part  off  a  man  thoucht  he 
Mycht  clene  or  luwely  callyd  be, 
All  his  men  he  luwyd  for-thi 
In  all  tyme  till  oys  rybaldry, 
And  all  kyn  wycys  at  thare  wylle 
He  gawe  consent  and  lewe  thare-tille.  710 

F.  80.          A  robe  he  wald  be  nakyn  wys 
Put  wpone  his  body  twys, 
Bot  [in]  a  newe  robe  ilk[a]  day 
Hys  usage  wes  hym  till  aray, 
And  till  the  hors  that  he  on  rade, 
Off  sylvyr  schone  he  gert  be  made. 
The  byggyng  mad  off  his  palas 
Large  and  welle  anowrnyd  was, 
In  all  [the]  pesys  evryilkane 
Wytht  sylvyr,  gold,  and  precyows  stane,  720 


CH.  IV.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  299 

Evore  syne,  that  na  man  mycht 
Prys  the  cost,  wyth  all  his  slycht. 
For  the  byrnnyng  off  the  towne, 
And  dedys  that  he  dyde  felowne, 
Hys  barnage  set  thaim  hym  to  ta 
And  pyne  in  presowne,  or  to  sla. 
For  that  cans,  owt  off  his  palas 
He  fled,  and  si  we  hym-self  off  cas, 
And  outhe  the  erde,  but  sepulture, 
As  a  dog,  lay  that  empryoure,  730 

Quhill  all  the  flesche  off  his  body 
Wes  ettyn  wyth  wolvys  halyly. 
Off  Nero  this  wes  the  endyng, 
That  is  ensawmpill  and  taknyng 
Till  thame  that  drawys  thare  delyte, 
[Tyl]  lust,  and  thare  foule  appetyte, 
Throuch  warldys  welth  and  wantowne  wylle. 
Fra  wertuose  dede  in  vycys  ille  ; 
But  resowne,  rageand  in  revery, 
Confowndand  pete*  wyth  felny,  740 

And  wyll  [noucht]  thare  hawtane  hawyng  haw 
Off  God  or  man,  but  luve  or  lawe. 
Galba  off  Koine  the  empryoure 
Till  Nero  neyst  wes  successoure. 
Off  that  state  yhit,  nevyrtheles, 
Bot  sevyn  moneth  lord  he  wes. 
Quhen  Nero  herd  off  Surry  tell 
Agayne  hym  ras  and  wes  rebelle, 
Vespasyane  he  send  off  were 

In  Surry  wyth  a  gret  powere,  750 

And  in  the  kynryk  off  Jude" 
Lyand  apon  were  wes  he, 
Fyrst  quhen  he  herd  Nero  wes  dede, 


300  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  V. 

And  Galba  ras  syne  in  till  his  stede, 

Wytellus  than  in  tyll  Yrland, 

And  Oto  in  till  Ducheland, 

Held  a  yhere  state  as  empryoure, 

In  Eome  oysyd  wyth  honoure ; 

Syne  ilkane  slwe  othir  off  cas, 

Off  thai  twa  swylk  the  endyng  was.  760 

Syne  Ytalyk  off  Tuskane 
Borne,  the  sone  off  Esculane, 
Ellewyn  yhere,  and  monethys  thre, 
And  threttene  dayis,  held  the  se 
Off  Rome  as  Pape,  and  ordanyt  than 
That  thare  suld  entyr  na  woman 
F.  so.  b.       In  tyll  the  kyrk,  as  Petyr  bade, 

Bot  gyff  hyr  hewyd  scho  coveryd  hade. 

Quhen  that  the  Pape  Lyne  wes  dede, 
Cletus  succedyt  in  his  stede,  770 

And  held  the  se  ellewyn  yhere 
Off  Rome,  as  Pape ;  bot  thai  twa  were, 
As  sum  men  sayis,  in  till  thare  lyve, 
Nowthyr  papys  successy we, 
Bot  thai  ware  till  Saynt  Petyr  ay 
Helparys  in  hys  latyr  day, 
Quhen  he  gave  his  vacatyon 
All  hale  till  hys  devotyon, 
Bathe  Lyne  and  Clete  thai  papys  twa 
He  despensyt  wytht  to  ma,  780 

And  for  to  do  the  serwys  all 
That  to  the  Pape  off  rycht  suld  fall ; 
In  tyll  the  nowmyr  tharfore  thai 
Ar  reknyd  off  haly  Papis  ay. 
Cletus  comendyt  gretly 
All  thai  that  oysid  devotly 


CH.  v.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  301 

Haly  pylgrymage  to  ta, 

And  mast  ay  [he]  comendyt  thai 

That  Saynt  [Petyr]  and  Saynt  Paule  wald  wysyt, 

For  that  he  callyd  off  mare  [wyt  and]  meryt      790 

Than  for  till  fast  twa  yhere  or  thre ; 

All  tha  tharfore  cursyd  he 

That  lettyd  thame  off  thare  wayage 

Till  Petyre  and  Paule  in  pylgrymage. 

In  to  the  Papys  lettrys  he 
Gert  fyrst  Salutem  wryttyn  be 
And  Apostolicam  Benedictionem,  sua 
Fra  that  he  wes  dede  all  tha 
That  succedyt  to  that  state 
Thai  wordys  in  thare  Bullys  wrate.  800 


CHAP.   V. 


.Sajmt  Clement  anb  3P<nnitiatu. 

A.D.       Tt 
71.         JJFTEPtE  that  borne  wes  God  off  Hewyn 

Thre  score  off  yherys  and  ellewyn 

Vespasyane  wan  halyly 

All  the  landys  off  Surry 

To  the  empyre  ;  and  that  day 

Abowte  Jerusalem  he  lay, 

Wyth  hys  ost  off  gret  powere 

In  tyll  assege,  as  man  off  were, 

Quhen  be  lettrys  till  hym  send 

He  saw,  and  be  thare  tenore  kend  810 

That  he  wes  chosyn  empryowre. 

That  state  tharfore  wyth  honowre 


302  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  V. 

He  ressawyd  in  Palestyne : 
Titus  his  sone  he  callyd  syne, 
And  till  hym  comendyt  hale 
Off  his  gret  ost  the  govemale. 
Till  Kome  syne  he  passyd  in  hy, 
Quhare  he  resaywyd  wes  honorably, 
And  commendyt  mekyll  wes, 

F.  81.        For  hys  gret  worschype  and  pro  wes.  820 

Syne  in  the  flux  hym  hapnyd  to  de, 
For  thare  is  nane  that  cas  may  fle, 
Bot  in  tyll  his  lattyre  thrawe, 
To  dede  quhen  [he]  begouth  to  drawe, 
Evyn  wp  on  his  fete  he  stud, 
And  sayd,  wyth  hale  woice  and  gud, 
"  Ane  Empryowre  suld  ay  per-de 
Than  the  erde  fere  hyere  be." 

In  tyll  that  thrawe  he  tuk  the  dede, 
Titus  hys  sone  ras  in  his  stede  830 

Off  Eome  lord  and  empryoure, 
And  lede  thre  yhere  wytht  honoure. 
He  tuk  and  gert  dystroyid  be 
Off  Jerusalem  the  cyte", 
And  off  the  Tempill  he  tuk  hale 
Ornamentys,  vestymentys,  and  weschalle, 
And  till  Eome  all  thai  send  he, 
Syne  brynt  gert  all  the  Tempill  be, 
And  all  the  cytezanys  slayne  downe ; 
Thare  was  the  mast  confusioune  840 

In  ony  tyme  that  yhe  herd  telle, 
That  evyr  to  the  Jowys  fell ; 
For  off  the  Jowys  slayne,  the  blude 
Throuch  all  the  towne  in  till  a  flude 
On  hewyd  wyth  weltrand  wawys  than, 


CH.  v.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  303 

As  ry  werys  raysid  wyth  rayne  ran : 

Wyth  suerd  thare  mony  Jowys  ware 

Slayne,  and  [mony]  deyd  [war]  thare 

In  hungyr,  for  the  Eomanys  hale 

Consumyt  and  held  fra  thame  all  wyttalle,         850 

And  off  the  Jowys  at  thame  yhald 

Till  the  Eomanys,  ay  thai  sauld 

Thretty  for  a  penny  thare, 

Yhit  sellarys  may  than  byarys  ware ; 

For  the  Eomanys  alway  thoucht 

That  the  Jowys  na  thing  doucht 

To  be  haldyn  in  serwyce, 

That  gert  thame  sel  thame  off  sic  prys. 

In  tyll  Wespasyanys  days, 

And  Titus,  as  the  story  says,  860 

To  Jerusalem  this  fell. 

But  off  Tytus  mare  to  telle, 
He  wes  off  sa  gret  curtasy, 
Pyte,  gud  wyll,  and  mercy, 
That  quhen  agaynys  his  persowne 
Men  ware  off  conspiratyowne 
Accusyd,  and  convic  be  the  lawe, 
Fra  jugement  he  wald  thame  drawe, 
And  kys  thame,  and  forgyff  thame  all 
The  danger  that  thai  suld  in  fall,  870 

And  als  hamelyly  [withe]  thame  thare 
Tak  thame  as  befor  thai  ware. 
He  excedyt  off  largeas 
All  thai  that  before  hym  was, 
Or  in  hys  tyme,  off  ony  gre ; 
For  tyll  hym  tynt  that  day  thoucht  he 
That  na  man  come  til  ask  hym  oucht, 
F.  81.  b.      And  quha  that  evyr  tyll  hyrn  soucht, 


304  THE  CRONYKIL  [B.  V. 

He  denyit  nevyr  that  thyng 

That  wes  resowne  [of]  hys  askyng ;  880 

For  it  wes  his  oys  to  say 

That  nane  suld  sary  pas  away 

Fra  ony  prynce,  or  lord,  or  kyng, 

Quhen  he  schawyt  his  yharnyng. 

He  wes  off  wyrschype  sa  wertuus, 

And  off  dedys  sa  mervalus, 

That  wyth  all  mankynd  off  his  eyld, 

He  wes  the  joy  callyd,  and  the  beyld. 

And  efftyre  that  quhen  ded  wes  he, 

AU  thai  that  duelt  in  that  cyte",  890 

Gretand  in  tyll  sobbyng  sare, 

Noucht  les  in  all  anoyit  ware. 

Na  thoucht  all  thare  kyn  ilkane 

War  wndone,  or  wytht  dede  ourtane : 

For  his  gret  benygnyte, 

Worschype,  wertu,  and  bownte, 

He  past  his  fadyre  in  to  fame 

And  callyd  before  hym  is  be  name, 

As  in  till  all  story  ay 

Rede  and  wrytyn  fynd  ye  may.  900 

Quhen  Petyr,  Lyne,  and  Clete  ware  dede, 
Saynt  Clement  sat  in  to  thare  stede 
Nyne  yhere  Pape,  and  monethys  twa, 
And  ten  days  full  ekyd  to  tha. 
Efftyr  the  baptysme  ordanyt  he 
Crystyne-men  to  confermyt  be, 
But  that,  he  sayd,  na  man  mycht 
Full  Crystyn  man  be  callyd  rycht ; 
And  syne  to  dede  dispytwysly 
He  wes  done  throuch  hard  martyry,  910 

And  in  the  s&  his  body  lay 


CH.  v.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  305 

Castyn  thare  efftyr  mony  day, 

Quhille  the  Pape  Cyryllus  ras, 

In  tyll  hys  tyme  it  fundyn  was  ; 

And  that  the  se  quhar  lang  he  lay 

Oysyd  ilk  yher  tyll  esche  away 

Era  that  kyrk  a  gret  space, 

That  off  Saynt  Clement  fundyt  was. 

Fra  are  none  off  [the]  evyn  beforne 

That  hys  fest  fell  on  the  morne,  920 

Quhill  the  day  [fere]  efftyre  nowne, 

That  Mes  and  offerand  ware  all  downe. 

Than  Domityane,  the  tothir 
Wespasyianys  sone  and  Titus  brodyr, 
Threttene  yhere  off  the  empyre, 
And  fywe  moneth,  wes  lord  and  syre ; 
He  wes  in  tyll  his  begynnyng 
Off  gret  mesoure  in  all  thyng, 
Bot  syne  in  tyll  his  state  wes  he 
Sa  vycyows  in  all  degre,  930 

That  off  [his]  fadyre  the  gud  name, 
And  off  his  brothyr  the  fayr  fame, 
Wes  delete  all  halyly, 
Throuch  hys  wyce  and  hys  felny. 
F.  82.       The  nobylest  off  the  senatowrys, 

That  wes  the  mast  wys  consalowrys, 
He  gert  to  fellowne  dede  be  done. 
Syne  him-self  he  gert  call  sone, 
Bothe  lord  and  god  off  mekyll  naycht, 
Thare  wes  na  fygure  he  gert  dycht,  940 

Or  mak  off  hym-self  to  be, 
Than  it  off  sylvyr  fyne  made  he, 
Or  than  off  gud  gold  and  pure, 
Welle  fasownyt,  off  fayr  portrature. 
VOL.  i.  u 


306  THE  CRONYKIL  [B.  V. 

Fyrst  to  lordschype  quhen  he  drewe 

Hys  systyr  sonnys  all  he  slwe, 

Neyst  efftyre  Nero  the  fellowne, 

He  made  fyrst  persecutyown 

Off  Crystyn  men,  and  thare  fay 

Supprysyd  he  held  at  wndyre  ay ;  950 

And  set  that  this  Domityane 

Wes  sone  to  gude  Wespasiane, 

Yhit  he  wes  off  condytyowne 

Mare  lyk  tyll  Nero  the  fellowne, 

Than  till  fadyr  or  brodyre  he 

Lyk  wes  [in]  till  ony  gre. 

The  ewangelyst  Saynt  Jhon, 
That  duelt  than  in  till  Epheson, 
Hys  ewangyle  apertly 

Freehand,  passyd  throuche  Asy ;  960 

Tharefore  this  Domityane 
Gert  hym  arestyd  be  and  tane, 
And  send  to  presowne  in  the  yle 
Off  Pathmos,  swa,  wyth-in  that  quhille, 
Apocalipsis  all  he  wrate ; 
Sa  presownyd  he  bad  in  that  state, 
Quhyll  that  this  Domityane 
Throuch  wnhape  hys  dede  had  tane. 

And  in  till  this  tyme  Saynt  Dynys 
And  hys  falowys,  in  Parys,  970 

Off  dede  tholyd  [the]  passyown. 
The  tempill  than  als  off  Panteown 
Quhare  syne  was  Mary  the  Eotound, 
Agrippa  Marcus  than  gert  fownd, 
And  than  that  tempyll,  as  men  sayis, 
All  thus  was  fowndyt  in  thai  dayis. 

Quhen  the  senatowrys  herd  tell 


CH.  v.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  307 

That  the  Perseys  ras  rebell, 

Agayne  [the]  state  off  Eome,  than  hale 

Thai  ordanyt,  apon  set  counsalle,  980 

To  send  furtht  Marcus  Agrippa, 

On  the  Perseys  were  to  ma, 

For  he  wes  prowest  off  the  towne, 

Commendyt  welle  off  gret  renowne ; 

To  this  thai  thoucht  hym  for  to  threte, 

Bot,  or  thai  hys  will  mycht  gette, 

To  delyvere  hys  entent, 

He  askyt  thre  dayis  awysment. 

Swa  in  hys  slepe,  apon  a  nycht, 
A  yhong  lady,  fayre  [and]  brycht,  990 

F.  82.  b.        Aperyt  tyll  hym  quhare  he  lay 
In  tyll  hys  bed,  lang  forow  day, 
And  callyt  hyr  nam  Dame  Cibeles, 
That  modyr  off  all  goddys  wes  ; 
Scho  sayd,  Gyff  [he]  thare,  Agrippa, 
Lelyly  wald  hecht  to  ma, 
In  honowre  off  hyr,  as  scho 
Couthe  and  walde  kene  hym  to  do, 
A  tempyll  fayre,  the  Perseys  qwyt 
He  suld  in  batell  discumfyte.  1000 

To  that  sone  he  gawe  assent, 
And  avowyd,  wytht  lele  intent, 
For  to  fulfyll,  in  tyll  all  thyng, 
Off  that  fayre  lady  the  yharnyng. 
And  one  the  morne,  qwhen  day  wes  lycht, 
All,  as  he  saw  this  on  the  nycht, 
To  the  senage  he  tald  hale ; 
And  syne  gert  ordane  his  batele 
Wyth  a  gret  navyn  apon  s&, 
And  knychtys  wycht  off  gret  bownte*  1010 


308  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  V. 

In  legyownys  fywe  ;  and  wyth  tha  quyte 

The  Perseys  hale  he  discumfyte, 

And  agayne  that  tribwte  wan, 

That  thai  payid  till  Octovyan. 

Syne  for  that  caus  he  mad  onone 

The  tempyll  that  thai  callyd  Pantheon, 

In  honowre  off  Dame  Cybeles, 

That  modyre  off  all  thare  goddys  wes. 

And  in  that  tyme  Domytyane 
Throuche  wnhape  hys  dede  has  tane,  1020 

And  thare  him  fell  a  foule  endyng 
For  hys  fals  and  ywyll  lyvyng, 
Wyth  hys  awyne  men  slayne  he  was, 
Off  suddane  chawns  in  his  palas. 
And  Nerva,  quhen  that  he  wes  dede, 
Eas  Empryowre  in  tyll  his  stede. 
Hys  empyre  stude  "hot  a  yhere, 
And  foure  moneth  to  reknyn  clere  ; 
He  wndyde  and  dampnyd  hale, 
As  [wes]  gevyn  hym  be  counsale,  1030 

All  the  dedys  evryilkane 
Before  done  throucht  Domytyane  : 
For  thai  ware  fundyn  all  off  ylle 
Done  by  the  lauche  for-owtyn  skylle. 
Swa  by  that  ordynans  Saynt  Jhone 
The  ewangelyst  till  Epheson 
Passyt  agayne,  off  presown  fre 
Lowsyd  ;  thare  welle  resawyde  wes  he. 


OIL  vi.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  309 


CHAP.  VI. 

CDff  Jtttadete,  anb  al0 

Jlnfc  (£toari«t^,  ccrntemporane. 

A.D.         A 

102.        -OLNE  hundyr  yhere  and  twa  gane, 

Fra  God  off  Mary  flesche  had  tane,  1040 

Anaclete,  off  natyowne 
A  Grek,  borne  off  the  regyowne 
Off  Athenys,  nyne  yhere, 
Twa  moneth,  and  ten  dayis  clere, 
F.  83.        Wes  Pape  off  Eome,  and  held  that  se, 
And  off  Saynt  Petyr  than  made  he 
A  memore,  and  till  othir  ma 
Byschapys  in  hys  tyme  allswa 
Steddys  fayr,  off  gret  honowre, 
He  ordanyd  for  thare  sepultoure.  1050 

Tyll  all  Crystynmen  he  prechyd, 
And  thraly  wytht  hys  lettrys  techyd, 
That  befor  all  othir  thai 
Suld  prestys  hald  in  honour  ay; 
For  he  sayd,  syne  thai  specyaly 
Oysyd  till  God  to  sacrify, 
Thai  suld  nevyr  supprysid  be, 
Bot  relevyt  in  all  degre, 
And  honoryd  wyth  ilka  man. 
This  Anaclete  gert  ordan  than  1060 

That  quhen  thai  yhed  to  sacrify, 
Or  do  thare  serwyce  devotely 
To  God,  thai  suld  wyth  thame  tak 
Wytnes,  that  suld  knawlage  mak 


310  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  V. 

That  thai  sacrifyid  welle, 

And  dyd  thare  devore  ilka  dele. 

He  ordanyd  clerkys,  wytht  honowre, 

To  schawe  thare  berde  and  were  tonsoure. 

And  efftyre  hyra,  quhen  he  wes  dede, 
Evaryst  sat  in  hys  stede  1070 

Ten  yhere  and  monethys  sevyn, 
And  twa  dayis  to  rekyn  evyn. 

J_  0  thir  twa  Papys  Schyr  Trajane 

Wes  Empryoure  contemporane, 

And  nyntene  yhere  off  the  empyre 

Stude  lord,  empryoure,  and  syre  : 

All  Asy,  Babylon,  and  Pers, 

And  hale  Ynde,  as  I  herd  rehers, 

He  throw  che  rade  and  wan  off  were, 

And  made  thame  till  Rome  tributere.  1080 

He  gert  wythin  the  Rede  Se 

A  gret  navyne  gaddryde  be 

Off  Ynde  the  marchys  till  distroy, 

And  hale  that  land  for  till  anoy. 

Off  the  empyre  the  bowndys  brade, 

Swa,  in  hys  tyme,  he  gert  be  made, 

That  all  the  Oryent  mad  homage 

Till  Rome,  and  payid  thare  trewage. 

Men  oysyd  for  his  wyrschype  ay 

In  till  comowne  prowerbe  say,  1090 

Quha  happyare  than  Octovyane, 

Or  quha  evyre  bettyre  than  Trajane  ? 

He  wes  als  sa  liberale, 

Sa  luwand,  and  sa  specyalle, 

Till  [all]  abowt  hym,  fere  and  iieyre, 


CH.  VL]  OF  SCOTLAND.  311 

Quhethyr  evyr  hale  or  seyke  thai  were, 
That  in  propyr  persowne  he 
Walde  pas,  and  thare  necessyte 
Walde  he  wysyte  and  amend, 
F.  83.  b.       And  thare- wpon  his  gud  dispende.  1 100 

Be  thra  counsale  and  felown 
He  made  gret  persecutyown. 
Off  Crystyn-men,  bot  yhit  he  wes 
Comendyt  off'  gret  rychtwysnes. 
The  story  sayis,  evyn  in  that  tyde 
That  till  hys  werys  for  tyl  ryde 
Hys  fate  he  hade  in  sterape  set 
On  hors  to  lepe,  but  ony  lete  ; 
Be  the  fate  a  wyff  hyin  gat 

And  benely  carpyt  efftyre  that,  1110 

"  Now,"  scho  sayd,  "  Schyr  empryrowre, 
Thow  lywys  in  ryches  and  honoure, 
Weldand  warldys  welth  at  wyll, 
And  I,  anoyit  in  angris  yl, 
My  lyff  ledys,  but  help  off  the", 
That  dettyde  is  to  succoure  me. 
The  comfort  off  my  care,  my  sone, 
Agayne  the  lauche  to  dede  is  done  : 
For  the  beld  off  thine  honowre. 
Thow  do  me  lauch,  Schir  empryoure,  1 1 20 

Off  thaim  that  that  innocent 
Has  done  to  dede  but  jugement." 
To  that  he  ansuerd  and  sayd,  "  Dame, 
Alssone  agayne  as  I  cum  hame, 
For  thi  sone  I  sail  ger  do 
That  laucht  wald  war  done  thare-to." 
"  Schyr  empryoure,"  than  sayd  the  wyff, 
"  Off  thi  gayne-come  wytht  thi  lyff 


312  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  V. 

Art  thow  sekyre,  or  quhilk  is  he 
That  thi  bowrche  wyll  thare-off  be."  1130 

"  Dame,"  than  sayd  the  empryoure, 
"  Sek  than  till  my  successoure 
For  thi  sone,  I  trowe  he  wyll 
Off  hys  dett  the  laucht  fullfill." 
"  Off  thi  successoure  the  deyd 
May  nothire  payre  na  mend  thi  meyd," 
The  wyff  sayd,  "  Schyre  empryoure, 
Thow  art  off  laucht  to  me  dettoure, 
And,  gyff  thi  successoure  wyll 
His  awyn  det,  in  his  tyme,  fulfill,  1140 

On  na  wys  can  thowe  sykyre  be 
Quhy  thow  suld  set  hym  than  to  me, 
And  his  awyn  det  to  qwyt 
May  noucht  mend  thi  mede  a  myt." 
Owt  off  his  sterape  he  wyth  that 
Drw  his  fute,  and  down  he  sat, 
And  dyd  full  lauche  and  jugement 
Off  thame  that  slwe  that  innocent. 
Quhen  that  wytht  the  lauch  his  sone, 
For  a  trespas  that  he  had  done,  1 150 

Suld  have  lesyd  [his]  eyn  twa, 
Ane  he  gert  be  tane  off  tha 
F.  84.          Fyrst  owt  off  hys  awyn  hevyde 

That  ane  mycht  till  hys  sone  be  lewyde, 
And  ane  lefft  tyll  hym-self  alsua  ; 
Swa  tynt  and  haldyn  war  eyne  twa, 
And  the  lawys  ilk[a]  delle 
Kepyd  ware  and  haldyn  welle. 

In  tyll  this  tyme  Schyr  Placydas, 
That  callyd  wes  effytr  Saynt  Eustas,  1160 

Off  hys  knychtys  evryilkane, 


CH.  vi.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  313 

For  worschype  prynce  wes,  and  chyftane. 

The  clerk  Plynyus  in  his  dais, 

Wrate  tyll  hym,  as  the  story  sayis, 

That  Crystyn-men,  one  nakyn  wys, 

He  suld  dysses,  or  yhit  supprys, 

For  in  thame,  sayd  he,  wes  nane  yll, 

Bot,  nevyr  that  he  cowth  fynd,  thare  wyll 

Wes  nevyr  for  to  mak  sacrifys, 

Na  do  thare  honowre,  na  thare  serwys,  1170 

Till  mawmentys ;  hot  thare  oys  wes  ay 

Lang  to  rys  wp  befor  day, 

And  than  thare  Cryst  devotly 

Honowre,  and  till  hym  sacrify. 

Fra  thine  he  cessyd  for  to  wede 

Agayne  the  Crystyne-men  in  dede  ; 

Bot,  throuch  his  persecutyown, 

Mony  sufferyd  the  passyowne 

And  payne  off  ded,  throuch  martyry, 

Off  fell  counsale  and  tyrandry,  1 180 

Before  that  Plynyus  till  hym  wrate, 

Commendand  Crystynmenis  state. 

This  emprioure  Schyr  Trajane 
Tuk  the  trewage  off  Brettane. 
And  in  hys  tyme  Duchill  ras, 
And  atoure  the  Peychtis  was 
Wyth-in  the  kynryk  off  Scotland 
Twenty  yhere  kyng  regnand. 

And  quhen  this  Empryoure  wes  dede 
Schyre  Adriane  ras  in  his  stede,  1190 

Bot  Trajane  sa  douchty  wes, 
And  be  way  off  his  rychtwysnes, 
Saynt  Gregore,  with  devotyown, 
Made  specyall  and  thra  orysown 


314  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  V. 

That  God  wald  grawnt  his  saule  to  be 

Owt  off  hel  dely verit  fre ; 

And  full  wyttyng  tharoff  he  gat 

Off  the  angell  efftyre  that 

That  God  had  herd  his  orysown, 

And  at  his  petityowne  1200 

Trajanys  saule  wes  owt  off  hell, 

Quhare  it  condamnyd  wes  to  duell. 

Bot  fra  thine  Saynt  Gregor  ay 
In  till  lestand  langure  lay, 
And  [in]  paynys  till  his  endyng, 
For  hys  wantown  thra  askyng. 
[For  quhy,  the  Angell  bad  hym  cheis 
Owthire  Trajanys  saule  to  leys, 
Or  ellis  to  tak  hym  a  seiknes, 
Sen  his  askyn  unskylfull  wes  ;  1210 

And  the  feveris  tyll  hym  tuk  he, 
And  sa  he  broucht  the  saule  to  gle  ; 
And  this  was  eftyre  fyve  hundyre  yeire 
That  Schir  Trajane  was  broucht  on  beire. 
And  the  cause  of  this  pete  was 
For  he  hard  of  his  rychtuusnes, 
And  of  hys  lyf,  and  his  gude  deid, 
And  for  he  thret  was,  as  we  reid, 
Be  cruel  cousaill  and  fellone, 
To  mak  sic  -persecutione  1220 

Off  Crystyn  men,  and  noucht  of  will, 
This  gart  Sanct  Gregor  tak  hym  tyll 
That  seiknes,  and  broucht  hys  saule  to  blys, 
Quhare  now  baith  he  and  he  ay  is.] 


CH.VIL]  OF  SCOTLAND.  315 


CHAP.  VII. 


JUgsatottbgr  anb 

anb  mglbe 


F  A.4i>b'  NE  hundyr  and  twa  and  twenty  yhere 

l22-       Efftyr  the  [byrthe]  off  oure  Lorde  dere 
Alysandyr  the  Pape  off  Home, 
And  kepare  off  all  Crystyndome, 
Fywe  moneth  and  aucht  yhere 
And  twa  dayis  full  to  rekyn  clere,  1230 

In  tyll  the  Papys  sege  sat  : 
Bot  syne  it  wakyt  efftyre  that 
Fully  fywe  [yere]  and  thretty  dayis. 

He  ordanyd,  as  Frere  Martyne  sayis, 
Watyr  and  salt  tyll  halowyt  be  ; 
Haly  watyr  swa  fyrst  made  he, 
Wytht  effectuus  orysownys, 
Agayne  all  yl  ternptatyownys. 
Syne  he  bad  that  men  suld  fast 
That  watyr  in  thare  howsys  cast,  1240 

And  that  Haly  Watty  r  ay 
Suld  be  made  on  the  Sownday. 
In  to  the  Mes  he  ordanyd  syne 
The  watyre  to  be  put  in  wyne  ; 
The  bred  als  that  the  oyst  suld  be 
Rownd,  [and]  off  lytill  qwantyte, 
Bot  off  floure  and  watyre  clere, 
And,  but  ony  othyr  matere, 
He  ordanyd,  and  efffcyr  his  day 
The  Kyrk  has  oysyd  that  manere  ay.  1250' 


316  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  V. 

Syne  in  till  the  Canowne  he 
Made  off  the  Mes,  Qui  Pridie, 
That  is  oysyd  to  be  sayd 
Quhen  yhe  se  the  chesybyll  layde, 
And  the  preyste  makys  hym  bown 
To  mak  the  levatyowne. 

The  empryoure  Schyre  Adriane 
Gert  Alysandyr  this  Pape  be  tane, 
And  presownyd  hym  in  to  gret  pyne ; 
Throuch  martyry  he  si  we  hym  syne.  1260 

Thus  quhen  Alysandyr  wes  dede, 
The  Pape  Syxt  sat  in  his  stede 
Ten  yhere  and  monethys  thre, 
And  ane  and  twenty  dayis  fre. 
Bot  or  that  Alysandyr  wes  Pape, 
Or  off  Eome  wes  maid  byschape, 
The  empryoure  Schyre  Adriane 
Off  the  empyre  all  state  had  tane, 
And  lyvyd,  in  wyrschype  and  honowre, 
*        Twenty  and  a  yhere  empryoure.  1270 

Jerusalem,  in  his  tyme,  he 
Gert  agayne  welle  byggyt  be, 
Bot  the  Jowys  he  held  ay 
Wndyr  yhok  till  his  end-day. 
He  wes  awenand  and  abylle, 
And  in  all  dedys  honorabyll, 
And  made  lawys  imperialle, 
And  wes  rycht  wis  in  governalle. 
And  a  pillare  he  gert  be  made 
In  till  Eome,  that  his  name  had.  1280 

This  Empryoure  Schyre  Adryane 
Wes  nere  newew  till  Trajane, 
F.  85.       Bot  at  hys  state  he  hade  inwy 


CH.VII.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  317 

That  wes  luwyde  sa  specyaly. 

For  that  inwy  gret  landys  sere, 

That  to  the  empyre  wonnyn  were, 

Hale  Babylon  and  Armeny, 

And  all  the  landys  off  Surry, 

Throuch  wyt  and  wertu  off  Trajane  ; 

This  empryoure  Schyre  Adryane  1290 

Lewyd,  and  swa  set  hym  sone, 

Off  all  Denmarke  tyll  have  done ; 

Na  ware  hys  counsalle  made  hym  lete 

And  hym  on  othyr  purpos  set. 

All  the  tyme  off  hys  empyre, 

That  he  off  Eome  wes  lord  and  syre, 

He  lywyt  in  qwyete  and  [in]  pes, 

And  a  welle  lettryd  man  he  wes, 

Bathe  off  Latyne  and  off  Grew, 

He  wes  welle  facund  in  Hebrewe,  1300 

He  mony  rychtwys  lawys  made, 

And  in  Athenys  he  ordanyd  hade 

Off  fayre  werk  a  gret  Lybrare ; 

And  bade  that  nane  sa  hardy  ware 

Crystyn  men,  on  ony  wys, 

For  ony  cryme  for  to  supprys, 

Bot  gyff  lele  pruff  agayne  thame  made, 

And  the  lauch  conwyct  thame  hade. 

The  Kyrk,  in  hys  tyme,  Oryentale 

The  oys  off  service  changyt  hale  1310 

In  to  langage  all  off  Grewe, 

Owt  off  the  langage  off  Hebrewe : 

He  ekyd  gretly  the  tresoure, 

And  held  his  knychtys  in  honoure  : 

Off  Jerusalem,  quhen  he 

Had  all  up  byggyt  the  cyte*, 


318  THE  CRONYKIL  [B.  V. 

He  gert  wall  in  all  that  stede 

Quhare  Cryste  the  passyowne  tholyd  off  dede; 

And  Crystyn-men  ay  lewyt  he 

Wyth-in  the  towne  to  mak  entre ;  1320 

Bot  he  wald  grawnt  off  nakyn  wys 

To  the  Jowys  that  franchyse. 

Quhen  that  his  barnage  come  hym  tille 
And  sayd  hym,  at  it  ware  thaire  wylle, 
And  full  counsale,  thai  gave  alle, 
Cesare  August  his  sone  to  calle ; 
He  said,  it  suld  suffice  that  he 
Agayne  hys  wyll  stud  in  that  gre, 
And,  but  dyssert,  regnyt  empryowre, 
Thoucht  that  stat  and  that  honowre  1330 

War  noucht  spylt  in  swylk  ane-othyr, 
Quhethir  ewyre  he  ware  sone  or  brodyre, 
Thare  sulde  na  state  succede  be  blude, 
Bot  thare  ware  undyre  wertu  gude ; 
A  lorde  borne  wyth-owte  meryte 
Is  noucht  worth,  he  sayd,  a  myte ; 
A  kyng  off  byrthe  and  wnworthy 
Eegnys,  he  sayd,  unhappyly  ; 
F.  58.  b.       The  fadyr,  he  sayd,  he  couth  welle  prove 

Dysspoyleyhyt  the  sone  off  fadyr  love  1340 

Mare  chargis  on  hys  bak  to  lay, 

Than  he  mycht  lychtly  bere  away ; 

For  swa  he  settys  hys  besynes 

Till  smore  hys  sone  be  lyklynes, 

And  wyndyr  byrthe  hym  to  supprys 

But  helpe  off  hym  wytht  it  to  rys  ; 

For-thi,  suld  men  in  thare  yhowthede 

Be  techyd  well,  swa  prove  in  dede, 

And  the  effect  oys  off  thare  lare 


CH.  VIL]  OF  SCOTLAND.  319 

Quharin  before  thai  oysyd  ware,  1350 

Gyff  that  thai  grewe  swa  off  walu 

Throuch  wyt,  wyrschype,  and  wertu, 

That  thai  ware  lyk  thame  till  excede 

That  thai  in  honoure  walde  precede, 

Than  thai  suld  clyme  as  thai  ware  calde, 

And  stedfastly  thare  steppys  hald 

In  to  that  hycht  quhill  thai  ware  set 

That  thai  thame  pressyt  before  to  get, 

Than  regne  and  reule  thaire  reawte, 

Wytht  luffe,  and  lauche,  and  leawte".  1360 

Quhen  Schyre  Adriane  regnyde  thus, 
The  phylosophyre  Secundus 
Wes  in  hys  flourys  and  his  state, 
Bot  hys  seutens  all  he  wrate, 
For  strayte  sylence  he  held  ay, 
The  cas  thare-off  I  wyll  noucht  say, 
For  yhe  may  find  it  in  his  buke, 
Gywe  yhe  wyll  all  hys  tretys  hike. 
F.  86.  b.          in  tyll  hys  tyme,  as  I  herd  tell, 

Oure  the  Peychtis  Wordegell  1370 

Ease,  and  kyng  was  in  Scotland 
Twenty  wyntyr  hale  regnand. 

JLN  till  this  Adryanys  dayis, 

Syxt,  as  the  Cornykyll  sayis, 

Wes  Pape  off  Rome,  and  ordanyt  ay 

Sanctus  [thryse]  at  the  Mess  to  say, 

Neyst  efftyre  the  prefatyown, 

Befor  the  levatyown. 

He  ordanyt  als  the  Corporalle 

Off  clene  lynt  to  be  made  hale,  1380 


320  THE  CEONYKTL  [B.  V. 

Fayre  and  quhyt,  but  ony  lyt  ; 
And  als  that  nane  suld  handyll  it, 
Na  nakyn  thyng  that  halowyit  ware, 
Chalyce,  towale,  or  awtare, 
Bot  thai  that  mynystryd  in  thare  gre", 
And  ordanyt  ware,  and  had  powste". 


eftyre  hym  quhen  he  was  dede 
Thelefore  sat  in  his  stede 
Thre  monethis,  and  ellewyn  yhere, 
And  twa  and  twenty  dayis  clere.  1390 

He  ordanyt  men  for  to  fast  ay 
Sevyn  owkys  hale  befor  Pays  day, 
F.  86.        And  Gloria  in  Excelsis  he 
Ordanyt  at  the  Mes  to  be 
Sayd,  and  on  the  Yhule  day 
He  bad  thre  Messys  be  sayd  ay  : 
At  the  cokcrawe  the  fyrst  Mes, 
For  Cryst  that  in  that  tyme  borne  wes  ; 
The  tothire  syne  ordanyt  he 

In  the  dawyng  to  swngyn  be,  1400 

For  that  tyme  Cryst  in  clathis  clene 
Wes  swelyt,  and  wytht  the  hyrdys  sene, 
And  anowrnyt  devotly, 
As  Luk  berys  wytnes  werraly  ; 
Syne  the  thryd  Mes  off  that  day 
Efftyre  Ters  he  ordanyt  ay 
To  be  sayd,  quhen  that  the  lycht 
Offe  oure  redemptyowne  [schynyt]  brycht. 


A 


ND  efftyre  that  Schyre  Adriane 


CH.  VIL]  OF  SCOTLAND.  321 

Fayr  deyt  in  tyll  Champano,  1410 

Antone  the  mylde  off  the  empire 
Stud  Empiyoure,  bathe  lord  and  sire, 
Thretty  yhere  and  monethis  thre, 
In  to  Eome  that  state  held  he. 
Mawche  he  was  tyll  Adriane, 
And  till  all  Crystyn  men,  ilkane, 
He  wes  rycht  meyke  and  off  gude  wyll ; 
For-thi,  that  name  wes  gevyn  hym  tille 
That  myld  Antone  thai  oysyd  alle, 
And  thare  fadyre  hym  to  calle.  1420 

And  als  in  hys  tyme  landys  sere, 
That  oblyst  tyll  gret  dettys  were, 
Off  thare  dett  he  made  thaim  fre, 
Bot  yhit  thaire  homage  ay  held  he. 
The  medycynare,  Galyene  off  name, 
Wes  in  hys  tyme  off  gret  fame, 
And  Tholom^,  in  astronomy, 
Wes  than  commendyt  grettumly. 
And  that  tyme  als  Pompeyus, 
That  callyd  be  name  wes  Trogus,  1430 

A  Spaynayle  kynd  off  natyowne, 
Commendyt  wes  off  grete  renowne, 
Off  all  the  warlde  the  storys 
Fra  Nynus  kyng  begouth  to  rys 
Till  that  tyme  that  Octovyane 
The  warld  all  to  the  Empyre  wan, 
This  Pompeyus  in  Latyne 
Cornykyld  and  dyvysyt  syne 
Tha  in  fourty  bukys  and  foure, 
Thare-eft  Justyne  that  red  thaim  oure  1440 

Abbregyde  all  tha  gret  storys 
In  smallere  and  in  les  tretys. 
VOL.  i.  x 


322  THE  CRONYKTL  [B.  V. 

This  myld  Antone  oysyd  to  say 
F.  86.  b.       That  fere  leware  he  had  alway 
A  man  off  his  to  sauff  wnslayne 
Than  off  hys  fays  to  sla  agayne, 
For  [that]  a  man  a  thowsand  hale, 
How  evyre  the  werd  yhed  off  batalle. 
Antone  the  Myld  this  Empryoure 
Alway  to  gud  men  dyd  honoure,  1450 

He  hade  a  dochtyr  callyd  Fawstyne, 
Off  face  fayre,  and  off  fassown  fyne, 
In  tyll  hyr  solace,  as  scho  past, 
Scho  saw  quhare  men  ware  fechtande  fast, 
On  ane  off  thai  scho  set  hyr  luwe, 
For  manhed  that  scho  saw  hym  pruwe, 
And  brynt  in  lust  sa  stratly, 
That  bathe  scho  sek^  was  and  sary, 
And  all  lyk  for  to  be  dede, 

Bot  gyff  scho  sonnare  gat  remede.  1460 

Hyr  husband,  thare-fore,  off  Calde* 
Gert  medicynarys  sone  fetchyde  be, 
To  se  and  ken  quhat  malady 
Trawalyd  hys  wyff  sa  grettumly. 
Quhen  thai  come  and  had  sene  hyr  welle, 
And  scho  had  tauld  thame  ilk  [a]  delle 
The  matere  off  hyr  malady, 
Thai  [gaf]  for  counsale  halyly 
The  man  that  swa  hys  manhed  pruwyde, 
And  at  scho  sa  stratly  luwyde,  1470 

To  be  slayne,  and  syne  his  blude 
In  tyll  a  weschall  tycht  and  gude 
Sulde  be  put ;  syne  hastyly 
Thai  suld  wesche  oure  hyr  body 
Wyth  that  blud  quhill  it  war  hate. 


CH.  VIL]  OF  SCOTLAND.  323 

All  thus  thai  dyd  wyth-owt  debate, 

And  [qwhen]  this  counsall  wes  all  done 

Hyr  temptatyown  cessyt  sone, 

And  coveryt  welle  off  hyr  malady, 

And  lefft  hyr  folys  fantasy.  1480 

All  this  tyme  in  tyll  Scotland 
The  Peychtis  duelt,  and  ware  regnand, 
And  Dekothet  than  off  thame  kyng 
Had  fourty  yhere  thaire  governyng. 

In  till  this  tyme  Thelesforus 
The  Pape  deyt,  and  Ignius 
Foure  yhere  and  monethis  thre, 
Quhen  he  wes  dede,  that  state  held  he. 
He  made  and  ordanyt  the  clergy 
Dystynct  be  greis  propyrly.  1490 

The  god-fadyre  he  bad  alsua, 
Or  the  god-mudyre,  the  barnys  ta 
Off  the  fownt  quhen  howyn  thai  ware. 
He  ordanyt  alsua  that  manare 
Quhen  barnys  suld  confermyt  be. 
Syne  in  a  generalle  lettyre  he 
Off  God  and  Mannys  unyown, 
F.  87.        And  Crystys  Incarnatyown, 
He  wrate  to  be  haldyn  ay, 
But  ony  dowte,  off  Crystyn  fay.  1 500 

JL  YLL  the  Pape  Ignyus 
Neyst  succedyt  Schyre  Pius, 
Ellewyn  yhere  and  monethis  foure, 
And  ane  and  twenty  days  oure, 
Pape  off  Eome  he  werray  was, 
In  hys  lettrys  he  said  Hermes, 


324  THE  CRONYKIL  [B.  V. 

A  doctor  gret  off  Crystyne  fay, 

That  welle  wes  lettryd  in  hys  day, 

Sayd,  that  ane  angell,  brycht  and  quhyte, 

In  tyll  ane  hyrdys  pure  habyt,  1510 

Apperyt,  and  gawe  byddiug  ay. 

Pasce  to  niak  apon  Sownday ; 

For-thi,  off  oure  autoryte", 

We  appruwe  that  solempnyte 

Ilka  yhere  to  be  done  ay, 

As  cours  rynnys  on  the  Sownday. 


.ARCUS  than  Antonius, 
And  hys  brodyr  Aurelius, 
Off  the  empyre  nyntene  yeire 
Empryowrys  and  lordys  were;  1520 

And  off  Rome  the  empyre  swa 
Than  wes  dyvysyt  betwene  thame  twa, 
Bot  quhen  Aurelius  the  dede  had  tane, 
Mark  Antonius  hym  allane 
Held  and  governyd  the  empyre. 
All  Asy  throuch  fra  Tars  to  Tyre, 
Ynde,  and  all  the  Oryent, 
And  gret  part  off  the  Occident, 
He  gert  pay  contributyowne. 

Bot  mony  tholyde  the  passyown  1 530 

Off  martyry  for  Crystyne  fay 
Wndyr  hyin ;  yhit  wes  he  ay 
Off  gret  wyt  and  off  stabylnes, 
For  nane  mycht  ken  that  evyr  he  wes, 
For  ony  word,  off  cas  hapnand, 
Changyt  in  hys  assembeland. 
Wyth  mesure  and  benygnyte* 


CH.  VH.J  OF  SCOTLAND.  325 

All  his  landys  tretyde  he, 
And  all  tyme  [he]  commendyt  wes 
Off  worschype,  honoure,  and  larges.  1540 

Hys  tresoure  quhen  he  dispendyt  hade, 
Hys  weschale,  that  off  fyne  gold  wes  made, 
And  all  hys  wywys  hed-gere  hale, 
Wyth  mony  othire  fayre  jo  wale, 
He  gave  his  knychtis  in  thare  f^, 
For  he  defawte  had  off  mone ;' 
Na  he  his  comownys  on  na  wys 
Wyth  imposityownys  wald  supprys 
But  mare  hys  wyll  stude  to  relewe 
Than  wndyr  hym  ony  man  till  aggrewe.  1550 

Bot  off  landys  syne  syndry 
Quhare  that  he  wan  the  wyctory, 
He  recoweryt  wondyr  welle 
Hys  distres  all  ilk  [a]  delle  ; 
F.  87.  b.      And  mony  landys  that  than  ware 
Subject  to  Rome  and  tributare, 
He  releschyde  thare  trewage, 
Reserwand  tyll  hym  thare  homage. 

Combust,  as  oure  story  sayis, 
Oure  the  Peychtis  in  hys  dayis  1560 

Wes  twenty  wyntyr  kyng  regnand 
Wyth-in  the  kynryk  off  Scotland. 

In  hys  tyme  Pius  the  Pape  wes  dede, 
And  Anyclet  rase  in  hys  sted, 
Nyne  yhere  and  monethys  thre 
And  foure  dayis  full  he  held  that  se. 

Sothere  syne  hys  successoure 
Nyne  yhere  and  thre  moneth  oure 
And  ane  and  twenty  dayis  fre 
Sat  in  to  the  Papys  se.  1570 


326  THE  CKONYK1L  [B.  V. 

He  bade  the  nunnys  on  na  wys 
Suld  cens  the  kyrk  in  thare  serwys, 
Nowthir  chalice  na  corporalle, 
Awtare  halowyt,  na  towale, 
Thai  suld  handyll  be  na  way, 
And  he  gave  byddyug  to  thaiin  ay, 
That  thare  wale  ware  na  tyme  lewyde, 
Than  than  suld  were  it  on  thare  hewyde. 


CHAP.  VIII. 


Cfjtoha  -pap*  anb  (Empritfttre  toa0  than, 
onOwrtit  to*0  §  rattan. 


A.D. 

185.        X3.NE  hundyr  and  fourscore  off  yhere 

And  fyve  full,  or  thare  by  nere  1580 

Quhen  that  Sothere  the  Pape  wes  dede, 
Elewtherius  tuk  hys  stede, 
And  sat  in  till  it  fyftene  yhere 
Sex  moneth  and  fywe  dayis  clere. 

The  Kyng  off  Brettane  Lucyus 
Wrat  to  this  Elewtherius, 
And  made  hym  instans  specyally 
In  till  Brettane  to  send  in  hy 
Off  hys  clerkis,  for  to  preche 
The  Crystyne  trewth,  and  syne  to  teche  1590 

The  Brettowuys  baptysme  for  to  ta  ; 
And  he  to  be  the  fyrst  off  tha 
He  made  full  professiowne, 
And  Jieeht  wyth  gud  devotyown. 

This  Pape  than  Elewtherius 
At  the  instans  off  Schyr  Lucyus 


CH.  VIIL]  OF  SCOTLAND.  327 

Send  twa  religious  men, 

Fugane  callyt  and  Damyen, 

In  tyll  Brettane  for  to  preche 

The  Crystyne  trewth,  and  men  to  teche  1600 

Baptysme  to  tak ;  for  na  man  may 

But  it  be  sauff  on  ony  way. 

Than  at  the  fyrst  off  that  cas 
The  Kyng  off  Brettane  howyn  was ; 
And  all  the  barnage  off  his  land 
Than  baptyst  wes,  and  welle  trowand, 
And  stedfast  stud  in  to  that  fay 
Till  Dioclityanys  day : 
F.  88.         That  is,  gyff  the  soume  be  sene, 

IAne  hundyr  wyntyr  and  sextene,  1610 

Or  nere  thare-by,  as  sum  men  wrate, 
And  variis  as  thai  set  thare  date. 

Aucht  and  twenty  byschappys  than 
Wes  off  ydolys  in  Brettane, 
i  And  thre  archebyschoppys  als 

Ware  that  tyme  thare  off  ydolis  fals ; 

The  byschappys  thai  callyt  thane  Flamynes, 

The  archebyschopys  callyt  than  wes 

Archeflamynes :  syne  thare-efft 

In  to  stede  off  thame  wes  lefft  1620 

Byschopys,  quhare  was  Flamynes, 

And  archebyschapys  quhare  grettyr  wes. 

Off  that  Papys  autoryte" 

He  gert  Schyre  Lucius  howyn  be. 

This  Pape  als  Elewtherius. 

That  Brettane  to  the  trewth  wan  this 

Ordanyd  that  na  man  suld  be 

But  chalange  put  owte  off  his  gre, 

For  Cryst,  he  sayd,  wyst  welle  [that]  Judas 


328  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  V. 

Bathe  a  theffe  and  a  traytoure  was,  1630 

Bot  for  lie  wes  noucht  off  swylk  thyng 

Wytht  the  lauch  accusyd  off  tholynge, 

He  wes  noucht  put  off  his  offyce, 

Bot  bade  and  dyde  furth  his  service. 

Amange  the  Appostyllys,  and  quhat  that  he 

Dyde  wyth  tharae  for  thare  dignyte 

Ferine  and  stabyll  it  wes  lefft 

And  approwyd  welle  thare-efft. 


I 


.N  till  Rome  Schyre  Comodus, 
The  sone  off  Mark  Antonyus,  1640 

That  tyme  wes  made  empryoure, 
And  threttene  yhere  in  that  honoure 
He  stude,  and  wes  in  dedys  fell, 
Owtrageows,  and  rycht  cruelle  ; 
Off  Duche-land  yhit  halyly 
He  wan  and  had  the  wyctory, 
And  held  it  subject  all  his  days. 

In  Egypt  syne,  the  story  sayis, 
He  send  off  Rome  a  douchty  man, 
That  callyt  be  name  wes  Phylype  than,  1650 

Chefftane  wndyr  hym  to  be, 
Off  Alysandyr,  the  gret  cyte*. 
This  Philipe  had  a  douchtyr  fayre, 
That  suld  off  lauch  have  bene  hys  ayre, 
Bot,  for  [lufj  off  [the]  Crystyne  fay, 
Scho  fra  hyr  fadyr  stall  away 
In  mannys  wede,  all  prewaly, 
And  tuk  wyth  hyr  in  cumpany 
Twa  geldyt  men  and  off  gud  fame, 
That  Prot  and  Jacmit  had  to  name.  1660 


CH.  VIIL]  OF  SCOTLAND.  329 

Scho  baptisme  tuk  in  prewate, 
And  held  hyr  madynhed  ay  secre 
And  Ewgenyus  callyt  be  name, 
F.  88.  b.       Comendy t  off  rycht  honeste  fame, 
And  lete  ay  that  scho  wes  a  man. 
Scho,  and  hyr  twa  geldyngys  than, 
That  conversyt  togyddyr  ay, 
Had  acces  gret  tyll  ane  Abbay, 
And  thaire,  off  thare  devotyowne, 
Tuk  habyte  off  relygiowne,  1670 

And  lyvyt  thare  religyowsly, 
And  dyde  thare  office  perfytely. 
Sa  sone  the  abbot  of  the  plas 
Deyt,  and  enteryd  was, 
And  this  Ewgenyus,  in  his  stede, 
•     Wes  chosyn  quhen  that  he  wes  dede. 

A  woman  than  off  pollute  fame, 
That  callyt  Melancia  wes  be  name, 
Wes  nere  duelland  that  abbay, 
And  [gret]  repayre  had  tyll  it  ay;  1680 

Off  that  repayre  swa  that  scho  hade, 
And  sawe  this  Abbot  [was]  new  maid, 
For  luve  scho  yharnyt  inkrely 
Till  have  hade  off  hym  copy. 
Quhen  scho  mycht  noucht  get  assent 
Off  that  Abbot  till  hyr  intent, 
Scho  defamyt  that  abbot  hale, 
And  till  the  mwnkys  tald  a  tale, 
That  he  wald  have  lyin  hyr  by 
And  [had]  supprysid  hyr  vyleusly,  1690 

Na  ware  the  pyth  scho  put  agayne. 
And  helpyt  hyr  wyth  mycht  and  mayne. 
Quhen  this  qwene  had  carpyt  thus, 


330  THE  CKONYKIL  [P>.  V. 

This  abbot  syne  Ewgeiiyus, 

That  hard  this  accusatyowne, 

Before  the  prowest  off  the  towne 

Wes  tyt  and  tane  be  howe  and  hare, 

Quhill  all  hyr  clathys  ry vyn  ware ; 

Swa  in  that  toyle  quhill  scho  wes  tyt, 

It  wes  persay vyt,  throuch  a  slyt,  1 700 

That  scho  wes  woman  propyrly. 

Than  the  prowest  werraly 

That  beheld  and  saw  this  cas, 

And  kend  at  scho  his  douchtyre  was, 

Lowyt  God,  syne  howyn  wes  he, 

Wyth  all  hys  court  and  his  meuyhe, 

And  the  wykkyt  quene  Melans, 

Throuch  subitane  and  fell  weogeans, 

Off  fyrflaucht  fers  in  to  that  stede 

Peryst,  but  ony  kyn  remede.  1710 


Q 


'WHEN  Elewtherjus  the  pape  wes  dede, 
Victor  sat  in  tyll  hys  stede 
Twa  moneth  and  ten  yhere, 
And  twelff  day  is  passyd  clere. 
A  gret  Consalle  he  gert  be 
Haldyn  wyth  solempnyte ; 
Thare  stablyst  wes  that  Pasce  suld  ay 
Be  done  apone  [the]  Sownday ; 
For  mony  byschapys  off  Asy, 
And  all  the  Oryent  halyly,  1720 

F.  89.        Oysyd  ilke  yhere  to  do  thare  Pasce, 
As  than  the  Jowys  maner  was. 
Gyff  ony  man  in  dowte  ware  stade, 
And  nede  off  helpe  or  mystyr  had, 


CH.  VIIL]  OF  SCOTLAND.  331 

And  yharnyt  in  that  poynt  to  be 
Crystyne  man ;  than  ordanyde  he 
That  man  to  be  howyn  thare, 
In  quhat  kyn  [ply]  that  ewyre  he  ware. 

Quhen  that  Victor  pape  was  thus, 
The  empryoure  ras,  Elyus,  1730 

Till  ilke  man  in  his  degre 
Myld  and  cumpynabill  wes  he. 
Bot  wyth-in  the  fyrst  yhere 
Off  hys  empyre,  for-owtyn  were, 
He  wes  slayne  off  cas,  and  dede. 

Than  ras  Severus  in  hys  stede, 
And  sevyn  yhere  off  the  empyre 
He  empryoure,  bath  lord  and  syre, 
Stude,  and  prowyt  gret  douchtynes, 
And  a  welle  lettryd  man  he  wes :  1 740 

He  wes  cruelle,  and  fellowne, 
And  made  gret  persecutyowne 
Off  Crystyn  men,  that  mony  were 
Dede  throuch  hym  in  paynys  sere. 

He  faucht  wyth  syndry  natyownys, 
And  wan,  and  made  thare  regyownys 
Till  Eome  subject ;  and  Brettane 
Off  thai  the  last  wes  that  he  wan. 
And  thare  he  mad  wyth-in  that  He 
A  wall  lang  off  a  hundyr  myle  1 750 

Wytht  thretty  myle  thare-till  and  thre, 
Strekand  ewyn  fra  se  to  se, 
In  the  takyn  that  he  wan 
Off  were  the  kynrike  off  Brettane. 

In  till  Yhork  syne  he  wes  dede. 
Caracalla  in  tyll  hys  stede 
Sewyn  yhere  wes  empryoure; 


332  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  V. 

Bot  lust  supprisyt  hys  honoure  : 

Severyus  sone  he  wes  but  dowte, 

Bot  he  wes  were  than  he  all  owte.  1760 

In  all  poynt  off  lychery 

He  lywyt  at  lykyn  fullyly. 

Hys  awyn  step-modyr  tyll  wyffe 

He  tuk,  and  led  wyth  hyr  hys  lyffe. 


)YNE  Zepheryne  the  Pape  off  Eome, 
And  kepare  off  all  Crystyndome, 
Neyst  succedyt  till  Wyctor, 
Qwham  off  yhe  herd  me  rede  before, 
And  that  sege  held  monethys  sewyn, 
Wyth  twa  dayis  full  and  yheris  ellewyn.  1770 

He  ordanyd  than  that  like  yhere 
Thai  that  off  eyld  passyd  were 
Twelff  yhere  suld  [be]  clenly 
Schrewyn,  and  tak  syne  devotly 
The  Ewcaryst  on  the  Pasche  day, 
That  Goddys  body  is  werray. 
F.  89.  b.  Qwhen  this  Zepheryne  wes  dede, 

Calixt  the  Pape  sat  in  his  stede 
Fyve  yhere,  and  monethis  twa, 
And  ten  dayis  wyth-outyn  ma.  1780 

The  Pape  Calixt  in  thai  dayis 
Ordanyt,  as  the  story  sayis, 
The  Catyrtens  in  dere  fastyng. 

Syne  quhen  his  lyffe  had  tane  endyng, 
His  successoure  wes  callyt  Urbane, 
That  was  off  natyoune  a  Romane. 
Thretten  wyntere,  and  ellewyne 
Monethys,  and  twelff  dayis  ewyn,  . 


CH.  viii.]  OF  SCOTLAND. 

In  Home  he  held  the  Papys  so* ; 

Waleriane  convertyde  he,  1790 

That  spowsyd  wes  wytht  Saynct  Cecyle  ; 

And  wndyr  hym,  in  to  that  quhille, 

The  kyrk  ras  till  possessiownys 

Off  rentys,  and  gret  regyownys, 

That  befor  hys  tyme  alway 

Lywyd  off  tendys  or  monay 

That  wes  gywyn  in  offerande, 

Be  oys  or  statute  off  the  lande. 

Till  the  Pape  Calixt  and  Wrbane 
Thre  Einpryowrys  contemporane,  1800 

Ware  in  thare  tyme  successywe, 
And  ilkane  fellowne  in  thare  lywe. 
Off  thai  the  fyrst  wes  callyt  Martyne, 
He  lywyd  bot  a  yhere  ;  neyst  hyme  syne 
Antonyws  wes  empryoure, 
And  thre  yhere  stud  in  that  honoure ; 
Hys  body  brynt  swa  in  delyte, 
And  off  foule  lust  in  appetyte, 
That  alkyn  kynd  off  lychory 
He  oysyd  als  commownaly,  1810 

As  he  a  best,  but  wyt,  had  bene. 

Neyst  efftyre  hym,  wyth-outyn  wene, 
Alysandyr  his  successoure 
Was  threttene  wynter  empryoure  : 
And  that  tyme  Orygenes 
The  Doctor  in  hys  flowris  wes  : 
And  Caramacert  in  Scotland 
Twenty  wyntyr  Kyng  regnand 
Wes  oure  the  Peychtis  in  thai  dayis, 
As  owre  Scottis  storys  sayis.  1820 


334  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  V. 


.  HIS  tyme  alway  till  Urbane 
The  Pape  succedyt  Pontayne, 
That  twa  moneth,  and  fywe  yhere, 
And  twa  [dayis]  full  for-owtyn  were 
In  Eome  held  the  Papys  se. 
In  Sardyny  syne  dede  wes  he, 
And  Cyryak,  hys  successoure, 
Held  hot  a  yhere  that  honowre. 
Bot  cesyd  off  devotyown, 

Ancheses  than,  off  natyown  1830 

A  Grek,  he  ordanyd  in  his  se  : 
In  cumpany  syne  past  he 
Wytht  the  ellewyn  thousand  madynnys  clene 
P.  90.         That  before  than  howyn  had  bene, 
Tyll  Coloyne  fra  the  court  off  Home, 
And  wyth  thame  tholyd  martyrdome. 
Bot,  for  cans  that  his  clergy, 
Wend  for  lust  off  his  body, 
He  had  wyth  thai  madynnys  gane, 
Eeknyt  he  wes  noucht  as  ane  1840 

Off  the  Papys,  quhare  thai  ar  set. 
Ancheses  efftyre  him,  but  lete, 
Ordanyd  byschapys  for  to  be 
Transferyd,  for  caus,  fra  se  to  se. 
To  thire  Papys,  contemporane 
Thre  yhere  fyrst  Maximiane 
Stud  Empryoure  ;  quhen  he  wes  dede, 
Gordyane  ras  in  tyll  his  stede 
And  sex  yhere  in  the  empyre 
Stud  off  Eome  bathe  lord  and  syre.  1850 

Quhen  Fabyane  wes  Pape  off  Eome, 
And  kepare  of  all  Crystyndome, 


CH.  ix.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  335 

Neyst  till  Ancheses  successoure, 

And  thretten  yher  in  that  lionoure 

He  sat,  and  ordanyt  the  Creme  ay 

To  be  made  on  the  Skyre  Thurisday. 

Quhen  the  congregatyowne 

Sat  in  thaire  electyowne, 

And  Fabyane  amang  thame  thare, 

A  quhyte  dow  on  hys  hewyde  bare  1860 

Lychtyde,  and  said  he  sulde  be  Pape 

And  off  the  warld  the  mast  byschape ; 

Throuch  that  electiowne  in  that  plas, 

Pape  off  Eome  he  chosyn  was. 


CHAP.  IX. 

In  ihis  next  pks  glte  0al  0e 

[ink] 


A.D.       m 

246.         JL  WA  hundyre  wyntyr  and  fourty 

And  sex  oure-passyd  fullyly, 

Efftyre  the  Incarnatyown 

That  mad  oure  salvatyowne, 

The  Empryoure  Gordiane  dede, 

Philipe  ras  in  till  his  stede  1870 

Off  Rome  lord  and  empryoure. 

And  quhille  he  was  in  that  honoure 

He  made  hys  sone  partynere 

Off  the  empyre,  and  sevyn  yhere 

Tha  twa  governyd  halyly 

Off  the  empyre  the  senyhowry, 

And  bath  Phylipe  thai  ware  cald  ; 

Bot,  as  I  fynd,  Phylipe  the  aide 


336  THE  CRONYKIL  [B.  V. 

Wes  the  empryoure  that  tuke 

Fyrst  Crystyndome,  as  sayis  oure  buke;  1880 

And  how  that  fyrst  fell  yhe  sail  here, 

As  I  fynd  wryttyn,  the  manere. 

In  Rome  quhilum  a  senatoure, 
Marcus  callyt,  in  till  honoure 
F.  90.  b.       Lywyd,  and  weddyt  a  lady, 

That  be  name  wes  callyd  July  ; 

Togyddyr  lang  thai  led  thare  lyff 

In  rest  and  ese  wytht-owtyn  stryff 

And  luwyde  rychtwysnes  alway, 

Bathe  trewe  and  stedfast  in  thare  fay.  1890 

Sa  betwen  thame  twa,  off  oas, 

Grete  wame  wytht  barne  his  lady  was, 

And,  as  hyr  tyme  wes  cummand  nere, 

Scho  oysyd  fastyng  and  prayere ; 

As  wemen  in  sic  perylle  stade 

Offtsys  for  thare  lyff  sa  rade, 

Hechtys  and  awowys  mare, 

Than  efft  to  qwyt  off  wyll  thai  are. 

This  lady  wowyt  gret  pilgiymage, 
And  tuk  furth  thare-on  hyr  wayage,  1900 

And  wysytyd  hyr  goddys,  ane  and  ane, 
And  soucht  the  tempyllys  evryilkane. 
Sa  in  the  tempyll  off  Jupytere, 
As  scho  was  makand  hyr  prayere, 
The  preyst  revestyd  on  hys  wys, 
For  to  resawe  hyr  sacrifys, 
Era  that  he  sene  had  this  lady, 
[He]  chawngyd  hewys  rycht  suddanly, 
And  worthyd  owt  off  his  wyt  sa  wode, 
That  thai  ferlyd  that  by  him  stode ;  1910 

He  tuggyd  wyth  hys  teth  in  taggys, 


CH.  ix.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  337 

Hys  westyment  ry wand  all  in  raggys. 
Wyth  that  thai  that  stud  hym  by 
Tuk  and  held  hym  stalwartly, 
And  syne  hys  bak  layd  at  the  erd. 
Bot  ay  wytht  rarys  reche  he  berde, 
Wedand,  but  wyt,  as  a  wod-man, 
And  his  comowne  word  was  than, 
Amang  thame  [al]  in  to  that  stryffe, 
"  Owte  !  owt !  oute  apon  yhone  wyff !  1920 

Hyr  byrth  sail  brew  ws  mekyll  bale 
That  howre  fell  in  the  dysemale 
Quhen  scho  consaywyd,"  he  sayd,  "  off  man 
That  wes  betwene  hyr  sydys  than  : 
For,  as  I  wate  welle,  I  yhoue  warne, 
In  till  hyr  wame  now  is  a  barne, 
That  sal  gere  our  goddis  alle 
Be  brokyn  in  to  pecis  smalle, 
And  owre  templys  cast[yn]  downe, 
And  wndowne  oure  relygyowne ;  1930 

Off  oure  goddis  mekyll  off  mycht 
In  me,"  he  sayd,  "  the  spyryte  rycht 
Gerrys  me  spek  this  in  prophecy, 
That  yhe  sail  fynd  full  certanly." 
This  was  noucht  that  spyryt  brycht, 
In  twngys  off  fyre  wyth  lemeand  lycht, 
But  brynnyng,  that  on  Wytsownday 
Blumynyd  the  Appostillys,  swa  that  thai 
Oppynly  spak  in  all  langage, 
Quhare  throuch  all  natyownys  had  knawlage  1940 
Off  haly  wryt,  quhen  that  thai 
F.  91.        Prechyd  haly  kyrkys  fay. 

This  spyryte  that  spak  in  to  the  brest, 
As  yhe  hawe  herd,  off  this  wode  preste, 

VOL.  I.  Y 


338  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  V. 

Wes  off  the  de[wi]le  that,  but  drede, 

Throuch  mycht  off  God  behowyd  on  nede, 

But  certane  wyt,  that  thyng  to  tell, 

As  in  to  deyd  thar  efftyre  fell. 

God  has  till  hym  reservyd  all 

The  wyt  off  that  that  is  to  fall ;  1 950 

Sa  it  is  Goddys  propyrte*, 

To  ken  the  thyngys  or  thai  be. 

Off  all  hys  creaturys  thare  is  nane 

That  tell  can  thare-off  the  certane  ; 

Bot  [qwhen]  the  ill  spyryte  is  swa 

Trawalyd  that  he  man  ansuere  ma, 

Hys  ansuere  alwayis  is  dowtows, 

And  the  conclusyowne  perylows. 

The  prest  thus  beryd  lang  and  fast, 

Swa  the  lady,  at  the  last,  1960 

That  beheld  and  saw  this  cas, 

Affrayid  owte  off  mesure  was. 

Wpe  sho  ras,  and  full  gud  spede 

Owte  off  the  tempyll  gretand  yhede, 

And  entryd  in  a  hows  nere  by 

The  tempyll,  dulefull  and  sary ; 

Thare  quhylle  scho  swouyd,  and  quhill  scho  swete, 

Quhill  wepyt,  quhill  scho  wongys  wete, 

Quhill  wyth  hard  and  hewy  stanys 

Bryzyd  bathe  brest  and  bak  at  anys ;  1970 

And  ay  scho  sayd,  Allace  !  alias  ! 

That  evyr  scho  borne,  or  gottyn  was, 

That  byrth  to  bere,  that  suld  gere  all 

Thaire  templys  on  thare  goddys  fall ; 

And  lete  gyff  scho  had  hade  a  knyff 

For  tyll  hawe  slayne  hyr  barne,  hyr  lyff 

Scho  wald  have  put  in  awenture, 


CH.  ix.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  339 

Had  noucht  bene  the  senature, 

Marcus,  hyr  lord,  that  saw  hyr  swa, 

Bathe  hewy  in  till  hys  hart  and  wa,  1980 

Quhile  he  hyr  chastyd  wyth  manas, 

And  quhill  hyr  comfortyd  wyth  solas. 

For  all  the  murnyng  that  scho  made, 

Hyr  kyndly  tyme  off  nede  scho  bade, 

And  than  was  lychtare  off  a  sone, 

The  quhilk  to  dede  scho  wald  have  done, 

Had  noucht  the  fadyre  nere  bene  by 

That  snybbyt  hyr  rycht  grewowsly, 

And  bad  hyr  off  hyr  birth  forbere 

To  byd,  gyff  thaire  god  Jupytere  1990 

Wald  reweng  hym  at  hys  wylle, 

Syne  large  off  mycht  he  wes  thare-tille. 

The  barne,  he  sayd,  thai  suld  noucht  sla 

Gyff  he  wald  wengeans  off  hym  ta. 

The  chyld  than  gert  thai  tendyrly 
Be  nursyt,  quhill  thare  wes  gane  by 
F.  91.  b.       Oure  hys  eyld  full  sewyn  yhere ; 

Fra  thine  on  buk  thai  gert  hym  lere 

Hys  primyty  vys,  quhill  he  couth  welle, 

And  all  hys  grammayre  ilka  delle  ;  2000 

Bot  hys  fadyr  gert  hym  ay 

Draw  fra  Crystyn  men  away, 

In[til]  intent  that  destyne" 

Off  thare  goddys  suld  brokyn  be. 

Apon  a  day,  yhit  nevertheles, 
As  to  the  scule  he  gangand  wes, 
By  a  chapell  he  come  nere, 
Qwhare  Crystyn  men  than  syngand  were, 
And  the  Psalme,  as  I  hard  telle, 
Wes  In  Exitu  Israelle ;  2010 


340  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  V. 

And,  [as]  Vincent  mad  rehers, 
Thai  ware  syngand  than  this  wers, 

Deus  autem  nosier  in  ccelo :  omnia  quecunque 
wluit  fecit :  Simulacra  gentium  argentum  et 
aurum,  opera  manuum  kominum. 
This  is,  in  cure  twng,  to  say, 
"  God,  forsuth,  in  hevyn  is  ay, 
And  all  thyng  that  he  wald  has  wroucht ; 
Thir  mawmentys  off  the  folk  ar  noucht 
Bot  gold  and  sylvyr  made  throuch  man." 
Off  this  grete  thoucht  the  barne  had  than, 
And  quhen  he  herd  thaim  [syng]  thir  wers, 
Ay  off  thame  he  made  reliefs.  2020 

In  to  the  chapell  syne  in  hy 
He  yheid,  and  drewe  in  cumpany 
Till  Crystyn  men  that  thai  wers  sang, 
And  sa  conversyt  thame  amang, 
That  off  the  Pape  Pontyane 
Haly  baptysme  he  had  tane, 
And  callyd  be  name  wes  Pontius. 

Swa  quhen  he  wes  hovyn  thus, 
And  hys  devor  all  wes  done, 

At  certane  tyme  he  sped  hym  sone,  2030 

[And]  off  hys  chang  glayd  and  fayne, 
Till  his  fadyr  hame  agayne ; 
And  sone  efftyre  that  thai  met  samyn, 
And  melyd  togyddyr  off  thare  gammyn, 
The  fadyr  speryt  at  the  sone 
In  to  the  scule  howe  he  had  done, 
Syne  the  tyme  before  than  last, 
That  he  had  fra  his  fadyr  past, 
And  made  [hym]  examynatiowne 
Off  his  lare  and  his  lessowne.  2040 


CH.  ix.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  341 

The  chyld  than  ansuered  hys  fadyr  dere, 
"  Syn  that  tyme  that  I  last  wes  here, 
A  bettyre  lessown  newyre  wes  red 
Than  I  herd  in  a  priwa  sted." 
The  fadyre  speryt  than  how  it  was, 
And  the  chyld  tauld  all  the  cas : 
Syne  throucht  hys  wys  argument, 
Hys  fadrys  hart  and  hys  intent 
Wes  hale  inclynyd  baptysme  to  ta. 
Than  togyddyre  bathe  thai  twa  2050 

F.  92.        Passyd  in  hy  till  Pontyane, 

That  werray  Pape  off  Eome  wes  than  ; 
There  wes  he  baptyst,  and,  that  done 
In  hy,  wytht  Pontyus  his  sone, 
This  Marchus  in  thare  tempyll  past, 
And  brak  downe  off  thare  mawmentys  fast, 
And  kennyd  Cryst  for  thare  Creatoure, 
And  dyd  hym  serwyce  and  honowre. 

Sa  fell,  efftyr  mony  day, 

Quhen  this  Marcus  wes  dede  away,  2060 

This  chyld  wes  takyn  apon  threte, 
For  honoure  off  his  lynage  grete, 
And  present  to  the  Empryoure, 
That  held  hym  in  till  gret  honoure 
Off  gre,  and  state,  and  senyhowry, 
As  till  hym  fell  off  awncestry. 
Sa  quhen  the  empryoure  herd  telle 
That  Frans  agayne  Rome  wese  rebelle, 
Owt  off  hys  cowrt  he  send  a  knycht, 
That  Decyus  to  name  had  rycht,  2070 

Wytht  a  gret  ost,  as  man  off  were, 
Frans  to  dawnte  wyth  that  powere. 
And  quhen  this  Decyus  past  in  Frans, 


342  THE  CRONYKIL  [B.  V. 

For  till  amese  thare  this  distans, 

Rynnand  wes  the  thousand  yhere, 

As  reknyt  wes  and  countyt  clere, 

Fra  Romulus  gert  wallyt  be 

Off  Rome,  as  yhe  herd,  the  cyte* ; 

And,  for  that  caus,  the  Romanys  hale 

All  that  yhere  held  festywalle,  2080 

In  turnamentys  and  justyng, 

Menstralcyis,  and  gret  dansyng ; 

And  ilk[a]  day  apon  thare  wys, 

Dyd  till  thare  goddys  thaire  serwys, 

And  held  thare  solace  and  thare  play. 

The  Empryoure  swa,  on  a  day, 
Ordanyd  hym,  on  hys  best  wys, 
To  pas  and  mak  hys  sacrifice 
Till  his  god  Jovys,  devotly ; 

Swa  tuk  [he]  in  hys  cumpany  2090 

This  chyld  Pontyus,  that  was 
Gruchand  in  that  way  to  pas ; 
Bot,  in  the  way,  swa  quhen  he 
Saw  his  oportunyte", 

He  sayd,  "  Me  thynk,  Schyr  Empryoure, 
This  serwyce  till  yhoure  Creatoure, 
Wyth  gud  wyll  yhe  sulde  dispeud 
That  has  till  yhowe  that  honowre  send." 
"  Sone,"  he  sayd,  "  tharefore  I  ga 
Now  to  the  tempill,  for  to  ma  2100 

Till  Jupityr  my  sacrifyis, 
As  is  my  det,  on  my  best  wys  ; 
For  he  is  that  God  off  mycht 
That  has  me  hevyd  to  this  hycht." 
The  chyld  sayd,  "  Schyre  Empryoure, 
F.  92.  b.       Yhe  ar  imployd  in  gret  erroure, 


CH.  ix.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  343 

Yhoure  mychty  Makar  to  forsake, 
And  tyll  a  dewyll  yhoure  serwys  mak. 
Yhon  similakare  callyt  Jupityr 
Can  nowthire  spek,  Ink,  na  here,  2110 

Set  he  hawe  mouth  and  erys  twa, 
Handys,  nes,  and  eyne  alswa; 
For  it  is  hot  a  lumpe,  but  lyve 
It  has  nane  off  the  wyttys  fyve, 
Bot  is  bath  dum,  and  deffe,  and  daft, 
Off  metall  made  wyth  mannys  crafft." 
"  Swylk,  sone,"  sayd  the  Empryoure, 
"  Suld  I  than  call  my  Creatoure  ?" 
"  Schyr,"  sayd  the  chylde,  "  He  that  yhow  wroucht, 
And  all  that  is  has  made  off  noucht ;  2120 

That  borne  wes  off  the  madyn  chast, 
Consayvyd  throuch  the  Haly  Gast, 
And  syne  mad  oure  redemptyowne, 
Throwch  wertu  off  his  passyowne." 
Throuch  thir  wordys,  and  othir  ma, 
The  Empryoure,  and  his  sone  alsua, 
Past  to  the  Pape,  Saynt  Fabyane, 
And  off  hym  baptysme  sone  has  tane, 
And  Phylip  cal[ly]d  ware  thai  twa, 
The  fadyre,  and  the  sone  alsua,  2130 

In  hy  togyddyre  als[ua]  fast 
To  the  tempill  sone  thai  past, 
And  thare  thaire  symilacrys  all 
Thai  tuk,  and  brak  in  pesys  smalle ; 
And  swa  the  destyne  wes  welle 
Fulfillyd  and  haldyn,  ilke"  delle, 
That  the  wod  prest  off  fors  said, 
Quhen  he  wes  brankand  in  hys  brayd. 
Swa  stedfast  syne  in  Crystyne  fay 


344  THE  CKONYKIL  [B.  V. 

Thai  ware,  that  on  the  Pasce  day  2140 

The  fadyre,  and  the  sone  alsua, 

To  the  kyrk  past,  for  to  ta 

Thaire  housyll  amang  Crystyn  men, 

And  the  Pape,  than  Fabyen, 

That  herd  thare  confessyowne, 

Gert  thame,  wyth  contrityowne, 

Thare  pennance  do  wyth-owt  the  qwere, 

Quhare  the  comownys  standand  were, 

Quhill  bathe  the  Serwyce  and  the  Mes 

Wes  done,  as  than  the  manere  wes,  2150 

And  syne  on  kneys  devotly  thai 

Goddys  body  tuk  werray. 

Thus  Philip,  empryoure  off  Rome, 

The  fyrst  wes  that  tuk  Crystynedome. 

Decyus  this  tyme  in  til]  Frans 
Was,  and  amesyd  gret  distans, 
And  wan  thaire  subjectioune, 
And  tuk  thare  contributyoune, 
And  ressayvyde  thare  homage, 
And  off  the  grettast  tuk  hostage,  2160 

And  gert  thame  sele  thare  ragman  welle 
Off  all  thare  poyntys  ilke"  delle. 
F.  93.       In  all  that  deyde  he  was  sa  wys, 

That  worschype  gret  he  wan,  and  prys, 

And  pompus  hawtane  in  hys  fere 

He  past  all  mesure  and  manere, 

Swa  [that],  wyth  gret  bost  and  deraye, 

Off  Frans  to  Eome  he  tuk  the  way, 

And  Phylip,  than  the  Empryoure, 

For  till  have  ekyd  hys  honowre,  2170 

Hys  state,  hys  wyrschype,  and  his  gre", 

Arayid  hyni  wyth  great  reawte, 


CH.  ix.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  345 

And  all  hys  barnage  halyly, 

For  till  hawe  met  hym  realy. 

Quhen  he  herd  that  Decyus  come, 

He  tuk  hys  wayage  owt  off  Eome, 

And  on  that  purpos  come  onone 

Nere  till  a  cyte"  cald  Werron, 

And  quhen  he  herd  thare  that  hys  knycht, 

This  Deems  had,  for  that  a  nycht  2180 

Wyth-in  that  cyte  tan  herbry, 

For  dowt  off  ryot  or  ry  wery ; 

And  that  thare  metyng  fyrst  suld  be 

Sene  wytht  all  the  comunate*, 

In  tyll  a-pert  wyth  swylk  honowre, 

As  ordanyt  wes  the  Empryoure 

In  till  a  lawnd  wytht-owte  the  towne, 

Gert  disscend  hys  pavylowne, 

And  all  the  lordys  that  than  thare 

Come,  and  off  hys  duellyng  ware,  2190 

As  thai  off  state  ware  and  off  gre, 

Nere  hym  he  gert  herbryde  be, 

And  gat  hym  wyttalle  off  the  land, 

The  towne  for  to  leve  abowndand, 

That  till  hys  knycht  na  thyng  mycht  fayhle, 

That  for  hym  tane  had  that  travayhle. 

This  Decyus  that  ilke"  nycht, 
Well  anarmyt  at  all  rycht, 
Prewaly  out  off  the  towne 

Past  on  to  the  pavylowne  2200 

Quhare  that  the  Empryoure  than  lay, 
And  slwe  hym  thare  lang  befor  day ; 
Syne  to  the  pawylownys,  ilkane, 
He  past,  and  tuk  wpe  ane  and  ane 
Off  the  lordys  thare,  as  thai 


346  THE   CEONYKIL  [R  V. 

Slepand  in  thare  beddis  lay, 

And  sum  wytht  trettys,  and  sum  wyth  awe, 

He  gert  all  till  hys  serwyce  drawe. 

To  Eome  he  passyt  syne  in  hy, 

Wyth  all  thai  in  his  cumpany.  2210 

Quhen  the  Eomanys  than  herd  tell 
How  that  that  cas  hapnyd  sa  felle, 
[Thai]  begouth,  on  thare  best  wys, 
Agayne  this  Decyus  for  to  rys. 
That  fellowue  slawchtyr  he  awowyd, 
And  sayd,  he  suld  be  welle  alowyde 
And  commendyt  wyth  thaim,  na  thai 
Suld  it  murthyre  call  na  way, 
F.  93.  b.       For  tyll  wndo  thare  goddys  fa, 

How  lychtlyast  thai  mycht  hym  sla;  2220 

Syne  he  wes  the  fyrst  off  Eome 

Empryoure  that  tuk  Crystyndome, 

Ensawmpyll  and  juge  agayne  thare  fay, 

But  sulde  the  blythare  be  alway, 

That  he  to  dede  ware  put  sa  sone, 

Or  that  thare  trowth  war  all  wndone. 

Be  swylk  slycht,  and  swylk  qweyntys, 

The  Eomanys  forebare  to  rys 

Agayne  hym,  as  thai  fyrst  thoucht : 

Hys  purpos  syne  till  end  he  broucht,  2230 

Swa  that  he  wes  Empryoure, 

And  twa  yhere  full  in  that  honowre 

He  stud,  cruell  and  fellowne, 

And  made  gret  persecutyowne 

Agayne  Crystyn  men  alway, 

And  at  wndyr  held  thare  fay, 

And  ay  martyrys  off  thame  he  made, 

Quhill  that  he  lyff  in  lestyng  hade. 


CH.  IX.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  347 

He  si  we  the  Pape  Fabyane, 

And  othir  martyrys  mony  ane  2240 

He  made  wndyr  [that]  culoure 

That  Phylipe  he  slwe,  the  Empryoure. 

Quhen  Philip  yhong  herd  be  tauld 
That  his  fadyr,  Philipe  the  awld, 
Wes  slayne  and  dede,  away  he  stall 
And  hys  tresoure  levyt  all 
Till  Saynt  Sixt,  that  than  byschape 
Wes,  and  off  Rome  efftyre  Pape. 
This  Phylip  yhong  ay  was  sa  lowryde, 
That  men  mycht  newyre,  for  play  na  bo  wry  d,    2250 
In  na  sted,  na  in  na  quhylle, 
Ger  hym  blenk,  na  lauch,  na  smyle. 
This  Saynt  Sixt,  I  spak  off  are, 
Till  auld  Phylype  wes  tresorare  ; 
Yhong  Phylipe  his  sone,  for-thi, 
Quhen  he  away  stall  prewaly, 
Lefft  wyth  that  Sixt  that  tresore, 
As  I  hawe  made  rehers  before, 
And,  in  till  Sixtys  passyowne, 
Saynt  Laurens  has  mad  mentyowne  2260 

Off  that  tresore,  as  is  kend 
And  wrytyn  welle  in  his  legend. 


Fabyane  the  Pape  wes  dede, 
Cornelius  sat  in  till  his  stede 
Thre  yhere  and  monethys  twa, 
And  full  ellewyn  dayis  to  tha, 
Syne  wes  he  slayne  wyth  Decyus. 
Till  hym  succeedyd  Lucyus, 
That  twa  yhere,  and  monethis  thre, 


348  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  V. 

And  twa  dayis,  helde  the  Papys  se\  2270 

Than  Gallus  and  Velusiane 
War  Empryourys  contemporane 
F.  94.       Twa  yhere  and  monethis  foure, 

Quhen  [Decyus]  dayis  war  all  done  oure. 

Quheu  Lucyus  his  dede  had  tane, 
Stewyn,  off  natyowne  a  Eomane, 
Pape  off  Eome  wes  yheris  foure, 
Twa  moneth,  and  twa  dayis  oure. 
Prestys  and  deknys  he  bad  that  thai 
Suld  noucht  in  comowne  oys  alway  2280 

The  halowyt  vestyment  on  thame  here, 
As  claythys  that  thai  oysyd  to  were, 
But  quhen  thai  ware  in  thaire  office, 
In  kyrkys  doand  thare  service : 
Off  almows  mony  dedys  sere, 
He  dyd,  that  I  will  noucht  tell  here: 
Throw  martyry  syne  he  wes 
Done  to  dede,  syngand  his  Mes. 

Waleryane  than  and  Galiene 
In  to  the  empyre  stud  fyftene  2290 

Yherys,  and  dawntyd  halyly 
All  Grece,  Gotland,  and  Asy. 
Wyth  Sapor  syne,  the  kyng  off  Pers, 
Thai  faucht,  and,  as  I  herd  rehers, 
Thai  empryourys  wyth  thaire  ost,  qwyte 
Ware  in  that  batalle  discumfyt, 
And  thare  than  wes  Waleryane 
Yholdyn  and  as  presownere  tane, 
And  set  that  he  wes  empryoure, 
Ay  schaine  he  tuk  and  dyshonoure ;  2300 

For  alway  quhen  the  kyng  off  Pers 
Wes  for  till  ryd,  I  herd  rehers, 


CH.  ix.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  349 

That  empryowr  behowyd  off  fors 
To  ly  ewyn  down  besyd  hys  hors, 
Lauch  on  erd,  quhill  that  that  kyng 
Wald  clyme  on  hym  at  hys  lykyng, 
And  on  hys  crag,  or  on  hys  face, 
As  the  wyll  off  that  kyng  was, 
Ay  hys  a  fute  he  walde  set, 

Quhill  he  mycht  the  tothire  get  2310 

Essyly  in  hys  sterype, 
Apon  his  hors  quhen  he  wald  leipe. 
Gernard-Bolg  nyne  yhere  than 
In  till  Scotland  wes  oure-man. 
Neyst  hym  syne  "Wypopenet 
In  Scotland  held  the  kyngis  set 
Oure  the  Peychtis  thretty  yhere  ; 
Till  all  the  tymys  passyd  were 
Off  thire  Papys  successywe, 

That  yhe  herd  me  last  dy  scry  we,  2320 

And  sex  Empryourys  than 
To  thai  Papys  contemporan. 

J^FFTYEE  the  dede  off  Pape  Stevyn, 
Saynt  Sixt  that  s4  held  thre  yhere  ewyn 
F.  94.  b.      Ellewyn  moneth  and  sex  dayis. 
Befor  that,  as  the  story  sayis, 
He  in  Spayne  as  Legat  past, 
Thare  Crystyne  throwth  he  prechyd  fast, 
And  twa  fayre  yhong  men  thare  he  fand, 
Honest,  habyll,  and  awenand,  2330 

The  tane  be  name  was  callyd  Lawrens, 
And  the  tothire  wes  callyd  Vyncens ; 
Thir  twa  luwyt  Sixt  specyaly, 


350  THE  CEONTKIL  [B.  V. 

And  wyth  hym  wes  contenualy 

Quhill  he  wes  in  Spayne  prechand. 

Syne,  quhen  he  turnyd  off  the  land, 

For  luwe,  tha  twa  folowyd  fast, 

And  furth  to  Eome  ewyn  wytht  hym  past, 

And  wyth  hym  in  thare  serwyce  bade, 

Pape  off  Eome  quhile  he  wes  made,  2340 

And  efftyre  that  tyme  als[sa]  fast 

In  Spayne  Saynct  Vincent  agayne  past. 

Bot  in  till  Eome  Saynct  Laurens  bade, 

And  wyth  that  Pape  hys  duellyng  made  ; 

And  he  than  made  hym  hale  kepare, 

And,  at  hys  lykyng,  delyverare 

Off  all  the  gud  and  the  tresoure 

That  Phylip  the  Empryoure  before 

Had  dely veryd  hym  quhen  he  past 

Owt  off  the  land,  and  fled  rycht  fast  2350 

Fra  Decius,  that  wes  [sa]  fell 

Till  Crystyn  men,  as  yhe  herd  tell. 

Quhen  this  Sext  wes  [Pape]  off  Eome 

And  kepare  off  the  Crystyndome, 

[He]  ordanyd  prestys  for  to  say 

Thare  Mes  on  halowyd  awterys  ay, 

That  ware  perfytly  mad  off  stane, 

Quhar  befor  hys  tym  wes  nane 

That  swa  oysyd  to  say  the  Mes. 

Throuch  martyry  syne  slayne  he  wes  23 GO 

Wndyr  Decius  yhong,  that  syre 

And  lord  than  wes  off  the  empyre. 

Efftyre  that  Waleriane 
And  Galiane  the  dede  had  tane 
This  Decyus  yhong  wes  rycht  fellowne, 
And  made  gret  persecutiowne 


Cn.  ix.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  351 

Apon  Crystyn  men  alway, 

And  mekyll  at  wndyr  held  thare  fay, 

And  mony  martyrys  he  gert  may ; 

This  like*  Sixt  wes  ane  off  thai  2370 

/ 

That  wndyr  hym  deyd  throuch  martyry. 

Sayuct  Laurens  than,  that  nere  wes  by 
And  sawe  this  persecutyowne, 
And  Sixte  lede  till  hys  [passiowne], 
Sayd  than,  "  Fadyr,  quhethir  nowe 
Wytht-owt  mynystyr  passys  thowe, 
F.  95.       Quhethire  art  thow  hast  wyth  sa  gret  hy, 
But  ony  serwand  swa  anyrly, 
Thow  wes  wownt  on  nakyn  wys 
To  do  but  dekyn  thi  serwys  ?  2380 

Lewe  me  noucht,  my  fadyr  dere, 
Swa  anyrly  behynd  the"  here, 
For  the  tresore  now,  but  dowt, 
All  hale  I  have  dyspendyt  owte." 

Quhen  Cesare  yhong,  this  Decius, 
Herd  hym  spek  off  tresore  thus, 
He  bad  that  he  suld  tyll  hym  bryng 
That  tresoure  all,  but  delaying, 
And  Laurens  than  off  dayis  thre 
Askyd  delay,  swa  that  he  2390 

Mycht  it  all  in  a  sowme  get ; 
That  grawntyd  wes  till  hym,  but  let, 
For  Decyus  yhong,  the  empryoure, 
Thoucht  till  have  gottyn  that  tresoure ; 
The  delay  thare-fore  wes 
Grawntyd  wytht  the  mare  blythnes. 
And  in  this  mene  tyme  Saynct  Laurens 
Gadryd,  wytht  rycht  gret  diligens, 
Off  pure  folk  a  gret  menyhe', 


352  THE  CRONYKIL  [B.  V. 

Off  eyld,  and  off  debilyte',  2400 

That  in  tyll  gret  ned  war  stad, 
And  mystyr  off  thare  fyndyng  had, 
And  closyd  thame  all  prewaly 
In  tyll  ane  hous,  and  syne  in  hy 
He  yheyd  to  the  empryoure, 
And  bad  hym  cum,  and  hys  tresoure 
Se  and  ressawe,  gyff  hym  thoucht 
That  it  war  worth,  or  gaynande  oucht. 
Wyth  that  Decyus  past  in  hy, 
Wyth  Saynct  Laurens  rycht  blythly,  2410 

For  till  hawe  gottyn  than,  thoucht  he, 
Off  gold  and  sylvyr  gret  plente. 
Saynct  Laurens  than  wndyde  the  dure, 
And  sayd,  "  Lo  here,  Schyre  Empryowre, 
Off  the  kyrk  the  gret  tresore, 
Quhare-off  I  mad  the  hecht  before ; 
That  mekyll  may  to  thi  saule  awayle, 
And  newyre  mare  is  lyk  to  fayle, 
Gyff  that  thow  may  ware  welle  this 
The  growyng  sail  be  hewynnys  blys."  2420 

Thare  than  quhen  Schyre  Decyus 
Saw  he  wes  begylyt  thus, 
In  malancolyne,  tene  and  ire, 
Kyndyll  he  gert  [be]  a  gret  fyre, 
And  thare-on  rostyd  Saynct  Laurens  ; 
Throw  swilk  torment  and  pennens, 
To  Jhesu  Cryst  the  saule  he  send 
F.  95.  b.       In  joy  to  duell  wyth-owtyn  end. 

This  Decyus  yhong,  I  spak  off  are, 
Was  noucht  callyt  August,  bot  Cesare,  2430 

And  fra  gud  Octovyane 
All  the  empryowrys  [evryjilkane 


CH.  ix.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  353 

To  tytyll  Cesare  August  hade 
Befor  this  Decyus  had  mad 
Off  Pers  hys  awne  intrusyowne, 
For-thi,  the  les  wes  his  renowne. 
For  nowthir  be  rycht  off  lynage, 
IsTa  be  laucht  off  herytage, 
Off  Eome  he  wes  Empryoure ; 
Tharfor  his  state  and  his  honours 
Wes  the  les,  bath  in  his  fame 
[And]  in  the  titill  off  hys  nam. 


I> 


"YNYS  till  Syxt  neyst  successoure, 
Twa  wyntyr  sat  in  that  honoure, 
Aucht  monethys  and  dayis  thre : 
Fyrst  kyrk-yhardys  ordanyd  he, 
And  till  the  kyrkys  parochys  ; 
And  ilk  prest,  off  his  offys, 
He  ordanyd  to  kepe  the  parochy 
Till  hym  assygnyd,  distinctly,  2450 

And  hald  hym  off  his  part  content, 
Usurpand  noucht  oure  his  extent. 

Felix  neyst  hym  sat  twa  yhere, 
And  thre  monethe  passyd  clere. 
And  efftyr  hym  Euticiane, 
That  wes  off  natyowne  [a]  Tuskane, 
Wes  Pape  ten  moneth  and  aucht  yhere, 
And  dyd  gret  almows  dedys  sere. 

Claudyus  and  Auriliane 

Wer  empryour[is]  contemporane,  2460 

Quhen  Dynys  and  Felix  successywe 
War  ilkane  Papys  in  thaire  lywe. 
This  Aurilyane  in  till  Frans 
VOL.  i.  z 


354  THE  CKONYKIL  [B.  V. 

Gret  werys  amesyd,  and  distans, 

And  syne,  apon  the  wattyr  off  Layre 

He  fowndyd  a  cyte",  gret  and  fayre, 

And  the  name  off  that  cyte* 

Orlyens,  efftyr  hym,  callyt  he, 

And  sna  is  yhit  callyt  to  this  day. 

Syne,  quhen  he  wes  dede  alway,  2470 

Tatikus  wes  Empryowre, 

And  Probus  his  neyst  successure, 

Floryane,  and  syne  Clarus : 

Thire  empryowris  sex  successywe  thus 

Eegnyd  thre  and  thretty  yhere. 

And  Fawchna-Qwhyt  than  ras  off  stere, 
And  twenty  yher  was  regnand 
Oure  the  Peychtis  in  Scotland. 

F.  96.        (jAYUS  syne  wes  the  Pape  off  Kome, 

And  kepare  off  all  Crystyndome,  2480 

He  ordanyd  hym  that  prest[ys]  suld  be 

For  till  be  ordanyd,  gre*  be  gre, 

Crownebenet  fyrst,  accolyte  neyst, 

Subdekyn,  dekyn,  and  syne  preyst. 

He  ordanyd  als  that  na  pagane 

Or  herytik,  a  Crystyn  man 

Chalange  suld  on  ony  way, 

Or  ony  sclandyr  on  hym  say. 

He  bad  als  that  nane  suld  drawe 

Clerkys,  for  till  suffyre  lawe  2490 

Befor  [ony]  Juges  Seculare ; 

And,  gyff  ony  dowtys  ware, 

Or  gryt  questyownys  off  swylk  were, 

That  ware  deficyle  to  declere, 


CH.  ix.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  355 

Thai  suld  at  the  Pap[ys]  se 
Beferryd  and  decleryd  be. 

All  this  tyme  Dyoclytyane 
And  [his]  falow  Maximiane 
Off  the  empyre  thretty  yhere 
Wes  ane  wyth  othir  parsenere.  2500 

II  and  fellowne  all  were  thai 
And  held  at  wndyr  Crystyne  fay. 
Thai  gert  bryn  wp  in  tyll  a  fyre 
Off  dry  schydys,  brynnand  schyre, 
All  the  bukys  off  Crystyne  lawe, 
That  nane  throwch  thame  the  treuth  suld  knawe. 
This  Dyoclytyane  past  off  were 
Owt  off  Eome,  wyth  hys  powere, 
In  to  the  Oryent ;  thare  landys  sere 
I        To  Eome  he  mad  tributere,  2510 

And  all  that  trowit  in  Crystyne  fay 
To  dede  war  done  wyth-owt  delay. 

Maximiane  his  falow  than 
In  Ewrope  mony  landys  wan. 
All  Frans  [at]  that  tyme  wes  cruell 
Stowt  agayne  Eome,  and  rebell ; 
Wytht  hys  ost  he  throwch  [it]  rad, 
And  to  Eome  it  subject  mad. 
Syne  all  Ducheland,  and  Spayne, 
Norway,  Denmark,  and  Brettayne  2520 

This  Maximiane  wan  off  were, 
And  dawntyd  hale  wyth  his  powere. 

And  Ingland  than,  as  sayis  the  buk, 
Thare  Crystyndome  all  hayle  forsuk 
Throwch  the  persecutiowne, 
That  wes  austere  and  fellowne, 
Done  throuch  Dyoclytiane 


356  THE  CKONYKIL  [B.  V. 

And  his  falow  Maximiane ; 
Swa  that  wythin  thretty  dayis, 
As  Vincent,  and  Frere  Martyne  say  is,  2530 

F.  96.  b.      Twa  and  twenty  thowsand  were 
Marty rys  mad  in  landys  sere. 
Saynt  Jorge  and  Saynt  Anastas, 
Saint  An,  Lucy,  and  Agas, 
And  othir  mony  martyrys  sere, 
That  may  noucht  all  be  reknyd  here, 
Off  dede  tholyt  the  passyowne, 
Throuch  thaire  persecutyowne. 


.  HE  Pape  Gayus  than  martyrdome 
Tuk,  and  neyst  hym  Pape  off  Rome  2540 

Marcellyne  sat  sevyn  yhere, 
And  twa  moneth  passyd  clere, 
Twenty  dayis  thare-till  and  fywe  : 
For  dowte  off  tynsall  off  hys  lyve, 
He  mad  on  the  Paganys  wys 
Till  ydolys  fals  hys  sacryfyis. 
Bot  a  Senyhe  solempne  syn  he 
Gert  in  Chawmpayne  gadryde  be, 
Ane  hundyr  byschopys  and  four  score, 
Welle  rewestyd  hym  before  ;  2550 

"Wyth  opyn  and  playne  confessyowne, 
And  wyth  werray  contrityowne, 
He  jugyd  hym-self  for  to  be 
Deprywyd  off  his  dignyte*, 
And  curssyd  all  thai  that  wyth  honowre 
Suld  put  hys  cors  to  sepultoure ; 
For  he  sayd,  at  cowatys 
Off  gold  gert  hym  mak  sacrifyis 


CH.  ix.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  357 

Till  fals  mawmentys,  and  for-thi 
He  wes  till  presthad  wnworthy.  2560 

Till  Dyoclytyane  syne  he  past, 
And  confessyd  before  hym  fast 
That  he  wes  lele  Crystyn-man ; 
The  emprioure  gert  sla  hym  than, 
And  efftyr  that  mony  [a]  day 
Wngrawyn  outht  the  erde  he  lay, 
Quhill  Marcellus  the  byschape, 
That  efftyr  hym  wes  chosyn  Pape. 
Saynct  Petyr,  the  appostill  brycht, 
Apperyd  till  hym  apon  a  nycht,  2570 

In  wysyowne,  lang  before  day, 
Quhare  slepand  in  hys  bed  he  lay, 
And  cald  hym  be  hys  name,  "  Marcell, 
Gyff  thow  be  slepand,  now  me  telL" 
"  Lord,"  he  ansuered,  "  quhat  ar  yhe 
In  till  this  tyme  [that]  callys  on  me  ?" 
"  Off  the  appostillis  prynce  am  I, 
Petyr,"  he  sayd,  "  and  askis  quhy 
"  My  cors  thow  thoyls  wngrawyn  be 
Lyand  outht  the  erd?"     Than  he  2580 

Ansuerd  and  sayd,  that  he  herd  tell, 
[His]  predecessor,  the  Pape  Cornell, 
At  the  reqwest  off  Saynct  Lucyne, 
F.  97.       In  tyll  a  towinbe  off  marbyr  fyne, 
Gert  hys  body  beryd  be, 
Wytht  festywalle  solempnyte. 
"  Nay,"  sayd  Saynct  Petyr,  "  Marcellyne, 
That  has  myne  successoure  bene  syne, 
And  my  falow  in  all  degre", 

Wngrawyn  lyis,  as  thow  may  se  :  2590 

Gywe  thow  likys,"  he  sayd,  "  till  luke, 


358  THE  CRONYKIL  [B.  V. 

Thow  sail  fynd  wryttyn  in  the  Buke, 

Quha  that  wyll  draw  hym  on  hycht, 

Lawch  downe  behowys  hym  for  to  lycht  ; 

And  quha  that  haldys  hym  in  the  lawe, 

Till  hycht  hys  meikues  will  hym  drawe. 

He  has  denyd,  and  saw  dide  I, 

In  that  oure  partys  fell  ewynly, 

And  syne,  efftyr  [his]  contrityowne, 

Off  gud  wyll  tuk  the  passyowne  2600 

Off  dede,  for  Jhesu  Cryst,  hys  lard, 

That  hewyn  has  gyvyn  hym  for  rewarde. 

He  hym  meikyd  in  mekyll  thyng 

That  hym  forjugyd  fra  grawyng  ; 

Tharefore,"  he  sayd,  "  I  byd  the* 

And  nere  me  ger  hym  dolwyn  be  ; 

For  honoure  suld  noucht  be  denyid 

Tyll  hym  that  grace  has  justyfyid." 

Marcellus  than,  his  snccessoure, 

Apon  the  morne,  wytht  gret  honoure,  2610 

Enteryd  hym  nere  by  that  place 

Quhare  that  Saynct  Petyr  lyand  was. 


Marcellyne  all  thus  was  dede, 
The  Pape  Marcellus  in  his  stede 
Sat  fywe  yhere  and  twenty  days. 
Maximiane,  as  the  story  sayis, 
For  caus  he  wald  noucht  sacrify 
Till  fals  mawmentys  dewotely, 
Gawe  hym  byddyng  for  to  kepe, 
As  herdys  dois,  nowyt  and  schepe  ;  2620 

Syne  in  thare  stabill  gert  hym  be 
Closyt,  quhill  thare-in  dede  wes  he. 


CH.  ix.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  359 

Waleryus,  Constans,  and  Lacyne 
Governyd  all  the  empyre  syne. 

This  Constans  wes  a  dowchty  knycht, 
And  in  all  werys  wys  and  wycht : 
Quhen  he  to  Rome  had  wonnyn  Spayne, 
He  past  off  counsalle  in  Brettane, 
For  to  wyn  till  hym  that  land, 
And  till  hald  it  in  hys  hand  2630 

He  come  to  Brettayne.     Bot  Coel, 
That  herd  weill  off  hys  commyng  tell, 
Send  messyngerys  till  hym  to  say, 
That  he  off  Rome  wald  [al]  his  day 
Hald ;  wyth  thi  he  payid  na  mare, 
F.  97.  b.      Than  hys  eldaris  [had]  payid  are. 
Constantyus  grantyd  thare-till, 
And  tuk  hostage  it  to  fulfill. 

Coel  deyd  in  a  moneth  syne ; 
And  lefft  a  dochtyr  a  wyrgyne,  2640 

That  excedyt  off  bewt£ 
All  the  ladys  off  that  cuntre, 
That  nane  in  Brettayne  wes  sa  fare : 
And,  for  he  saw  scho  wes  hys  ayre, 
He  leryd  hyr  off  mynystralsy, 
And  off  all  clerenes  off  clergy : 
Scho  hat  Elane,  that  syne  fand 
The  Cors  in  to  the  Haly  Land. 
Constans  tuk  hyr  till  hys  wy we, 
And  mad  hym  kyng  efftyr  belyve ;  2650 

And  apon  hyr  gat  Constantyne, 
That  Empryowre  off  Rome  wes  syne. 
Thare-efft,  or  past  wes  nyne  yhere, 
This  Constans  wes  broucht  on  bere  ; 
And  till  hys  sone  the  land  lefft  he, 


360  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  V. 

That  worthyt  off  sa  gret  bownte", 
And  off  sa  stowt  and  sturdy  dede, 
That  he  come  man  in  his  yhowthede. 


JL  YLL  Marcell  Pape  than  successoure 

Ewsebyus  wes,  and  that  honoure  2660 

He  held  twa  moneth  and  twa  yhere 

And  fywe  and  twenty  dayis  clere. 

Hys  successoure  Mylchiades 

Syne  Pape  off  Eome  twa  wyntyr  wes : 

He  bad  that  men  be  na  way 

Sulde  fast  apon  the  Sonownday. 

Than  Canatulmel  sex  yhere  wes ; 
Neyst  hym  Devortenauch-Notales 
Wes  bot  a  yhere  in  Scotland 
Oure  the  Peychtys  kyng  regnand.  2670 

Feredauch-Fyngell  neyst  to  tha 
Wes  kyng  regnand  yheris  twa. 


CHAP.  X. 


«Silbe0ter  the 
f  the 


A.B.      -n 

312.       JCjFFTYR  the  byrth  off  oure  Lord  dere 

Thre  hundyr  wyntyr  and  twelff  yhere 
Gud  Constantyn,  that  Elane 
The  kyngis  dowchtyr  off  Brettayne 
Borne  off  hyr  body,  wes  Empriowre  ; 
And  thretty  yhere  in  that  honoure 
He  stude,  and  Haly  Kyrkis  fay 


On.  x.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  361 

He  supprysyd  raony  [a]  day.  2680 

In  hys  tyme  till  Melchiades 
Silvestyr  succedand  wes 
Pape  off  Eome,  and  twenty  yhere 
And  thre  to  thai  to  rekyn  clere, 
F.  98.        Ten  moneth,  as  oure  story  sayis, 
He  sat,  and  ellewyn  days. 
In  Nycia,  that  cyte", 
A  solempne  Senyhe  held  he ; 
Thre  hundyr  byschopys  and  auchtene 
Thare  revestyt  well  ware  sene,  2690 

And  clerly  expowndyt  thai 
In  that  Senyhe  Haly  Kyrkys  fay. 
This  Sylvestyr  thare-efftyr  flede 
Era  Constantyne,  for  he  hym  drede, 
^      For  he  was  austere  and  cruelle 
Ay  till  he  in  lypyre  felle, 
Brokyn  owt  in  foule  myselry, 
Quhare-for  till  medicynarys  in  hy 
For  to  recowyre  hys  hele  he  soucht, 
Bot  all  thare  crafft  awaylyhit  noucht,  2700 

Quhill  the  bischapys  off  the  land, 
That  in  the  templys  wer  serwand 
Till  the  mawmentys,  sayd  that  he 
Behuwyd  off  nede  bathyd  be 
In  till  innocentys  bind  all  hat, 
Gywe  he  recowyr  suld  hys  stat. 
Of  this  counsall  als[sa]  fast 
The  sarjandys  apon  byddyng  past 
And  tuk  wp  barnys  here  and  thare, 
Quhare-evyr  that  thai  waverand  ware,  2710 

In  hous,  or  gat,  as  thai  thaim  fand, 
To  the  sowme  off  thre  thousand, 


362  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  V. 

And  put  thame  in  gret  sykyrnes 
Till  the  tyme  that  ordanyt  wes 
And  set,  quhen  he  suld  bathyd  be. 
And  that  ilk[a]  day  as  he 
In  tyll  hys  chare  fra  hys  palas 
In  hys  way  past  to  the  plas 
That  ordanyd  wes  for  his  bathyng, 
Wyth  dulefull  chere  and  sare  murnyng,  2720 

The  modrys  off  the  barnys  thare 
Gretand,  fra  thare  hewyd  the  hare 
Tyte  and  rawe  as  thai  war  wude, 
And  in  that  rage  on  thai  yhud 
Till  thai  met  wyth  the  emprioure  ; 
Befor  hym  than,  in  that  doloure, 
They  fell  on  kneys  and  cryid  sa  fast 
That  thai  hym  devyd  at  the  last. 
And  quhen  he  herd  that  stedfastly 
The  caus  that  made  thame  sa  sary,  2730 

He  stud  ewyn  wpe  in  till  his  chare, 
And,  till  al  that  abowt  hym  ware, 
He  sayd,  "  Ilkane  in  yhoure  degre, 
F.  98.  b.        I  praye  [yow],  gyff  yhoure  wyllys  be, 
Nere  togyddyre  nowe  yhe  drawe, 
And  gyffys  audyence  to  my  sawe. 
Off  the  empyre,  the  reawte" 
The  state,  the  worschype,  and  the  gre, 
As  all  [your]  phylosophyrys  syngys, 
Owte  off  the  well  off  pyt£  spryngys  ;  2740 

Na  thare  sail  na  state  endure, 
In  caysere,  kyng,  na  empriowre, 
Quhare  that  mercy  tays  na  stede, 
Bot  all  wyth  awe  and  grew  is  lede. 
For-thi,  gud  empriowrys  beforne, 


CH.  X.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  363 

That  had  this  state  or  I  wes  borne, 

As  Tytus  and  Wespasiane, 

Alysawndyr  and  Adryane, 

Trajane,"  he  sayd,  "  and  othir  sere, 

That  in  thare  dedys  dowchty  were,  2750 

Quhen  in  batalle  thai  displayt 

Thare  banerys,  and  thare  fays  assait, 

Thai  gave  in  byddyng  rycht  stratly, 

And  gert  all  oure  thare  ostys  cry, 

That  nane  suld  barne  or  women  sla, 

Na  clathys  off  thare  bodiis  ta, 

On  payne  off  all  that  thai  mycht  tyne, 

And  to  be  hangyt  and  drawyn  syne : 

Now  sen  sa  gud  before  oure  dayis 

Thus  led  thame,  as  oure  story  says,  2760 

Bettyr  me  ware  wnborne  to  be, 

Na  now  fall  in  that  cruawe* 

All  yhone  innocentys  to  sla, 

For  ony  helpe  at  thai  mycht  ma 

To  the  hele  of  my  body, 

That  to  recowyr  fullyly 

Be  na  way  can  I  certane  be  ; 

And  set  thai  mycht  recowyr  me, 

Yhit  it  ware  oure  cruelle  thyng, 

Off  sa  raony  barnys  yhyng  2770 

Off  oure  awyne  natyowne 

For  to  mak  sic  distructyowne. 

Quhy  suld  we  slay,"  he  said,  "  our  awyne, 

And  thai  forber  that  are  wnknawyne, 

It  is  no  speyd  for  to  supprys 

Wyth  fecht  or  were  oure  innymys, 

Gyffe  we  wyth  mare  cruawte* 

Amang  oure- self  discumfyt  be  ; 


364  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  V. 

Men  off  armys  wyth  thare  mycht 

F.  99.      Thare  fays  ourcummys  in  to  fycht,  2780 

Bot  wyce,  or  syne,  for  to  supprys 
It  is  off  wertu  a  qwyntys  ; 
In  swylk  pres  it  hapnys  ay 
That  we  ar  starkare  fere  than  thai, 
Bot  in  to  this,  but  dowt,  we  ar 
Starkare  than  oure-selff  befare. 
Quha-evyr  may  happyn  for  to  be 
In  to  that  fecht  discumfyte,  he 
Wynnys  hale  the  wyctory, 

And  the  victor  certanly  2790 

Efftyre  hend  his  gre*  is  qwyte 
In  till  hys  jurnay  discumfyt, 
Quhare  that  mercy  and  pyte* 
Discumfyt  lyis  throuch  cruawte'. 
For-thi,"  he  sayd,  "  in  to  this  fycht 
Pety  owre  wyll  sail  have  the  mycht, 
For  bettyr,"  he  sayd,  "  oure  innymys 
In  all  kyn  pres  we  may  supprys, 
Gyff  it  may  happnyn  gy we  we  be 
Wytht  mercy  wencust  and  pyte\  2800 

He  may  be  cald,"  he  sayd,  "  a  larde 
That  mercy  haldys  in  to  warde ; 
Bettyr  it  is  me  to  be  dede 
Than  to  recovyr,"  he  sayde,  "  remede 
Off  my  langwre,  wyth  the  blude 
And  slauchtyr  off  sic  a  multitude 
Off  barnys,  yhong  and  awenand, 
Off  oure  awyne  natyowne  now  growand." 
Wyth  that  till  thaire  modrys  he 
Gert  delyvyr  the  barnys  fre,  2810 

And  gawe  thaime  gyfftys  gret  allsua, 


CH.  x.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  365 

And  hame  syne  frely  lete  thame  ga. 
That  ilk[a]  nycht,  lang  befor  day, 
As  slepand  in  hys  bed  he  lay, 
The  honorabyll  appostylis  twa, 
Saynct  Petyre  and  Saynct  Paule  alsua, 
Apperyd  to  this  empriowre 
That  gretly  menyd  hys  languore, 
And  sayd,  "  Jhesu  Cryst,  our  lard, 
That  has  all  gud  [thyng]  in  hys  warde,  2820 

Has  send  ws  for  to  comfort  the", 
And  byddys  at  thow  sykyre  be 
Thi  hele  for  till  recowyre  welle 
Off  all  thi  seiknes  ilk[a]  delle  ; 
For  thow  lefft  to  spylle  sakles  blud 
Off  swa  gret  a  multitwde 
Off  innocentys  for  thi  body ; 
It  is  oure  counsalle  hale,  for-thi, 
F.  99.  b.        To  the  byschope  Sylvestyr, 

That  prewaly  is  bydand  nere,  2830 

Thow  send,  and  he  sail  informe  the* 

Quhare-in  that  thow  may  bathyde  be, 

And  off  thi  lepyr  swa  thow  sail 

The  hele  rycht  wele  recovyr  all ; 

And  syne  to  Cryst,  thi  werray  lard, 

Thow  sail  mak  sa  gud  rewarde, 

That  off  fals  ydolys  thow  sail  gere  cast 

Downe  the  templys  als[sa]  fast, 

And  haly  kyrk  thow  sail  restore 

In  bettyre  state  than  it  before  2840 

Thow  fand,  and  syne  honoure  ay 

God,  and  hald  wele  Crystyne  fay." 

Quhen  thus  our-drywyn  wes  the  nycht, 
And  on  the  morne  the  day  wes  lycht, 


366  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  V. 

The  Empryowre  gert  knychtis  pas 

To  sek  quhare  Saynct  Sylvestyr  was ; 

And  quhen  he  saw  thai  knychtys  nere, 

He  wend  that  thai  cummyn  were 

Hym  to  draw  in  thare  felny 

For  till  have  tholyt  martyry.  2850 

Bot  fra  thai  had  melyd  sammyn 

All  togyddyr  off  thare  gammyn, 

Thai  past  to  the  Empryowre, 

And  he  resaywyd  wyth  honoure 

Saynct  Sylvestyr,  and  syne  onone 

Per  ordyr  al  hys  wysione 

He  tauld,  and  askyd  hym  alsua 

Gywe  Petyre  and  Paule  war  goddys  twa. 

The  byschop  Silvestyr  maid  answere 

And  [said]  thai  Goddys  Apostylis  were ;  2860 

Syne  schawyd  he  to  the  Empriowre 

Off  Saynct  Petyr  the  fygure, 

And  ane  ymage  off  [Sanct]  Paule  alsua ; 

And  quhen  the  Empryoure  saw  thai  twa, 

He  affirmyt  that  thai  war  thai 

That  apperyd  quhare  he  lay 

Till  hym  in  his  wysione. 

The  Pape  Sylvestyr  syne  onone 

Baptyst  this  Constantyne, 

And  injwnyd  till  hym  syne  2870 

In  fastyng  all  a  w[ou]ke  to  be, 

And  all  in  presowne  to  be  fre 

Lowsyd  qwyte  off  thare  pennans. 

This  Constantyne  syne  ordynans 

In  fredome  mad  off  Crystyne  fay, 

That  he  devotly  tuk  that  day. 

For  statute  lawch  fyrst  ordanyd  he 


CH.  x.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  367 

That  Cryst  a  god  suld  honoryd  be ; 
F.  100.        Neyst  that  wes  hys  ordynans 

That  he  suld  tholle  and  bare  pennans,  2880 

Quha-ewyr  wyth  heresy  wald  blame 

Cryst,  or  set  on  hym  defame : 

Gyff  ony  syne  wyth-in  the  land, 

Agayne  the  lauch,  wald  tak  on  hand 

A  Crystyne  man  for  to  supprys, 

Or  for  to  wrang  hym  ony  wys, 

The  tane  half  off  hys  gudis  all 

Till  the  empryoure  suld  fall 

In  till  eschete,  wyth-owt  remede, 

Or  ony  instans  in  till  plede.  2890 

He  ordanyd  alsua  that  the  Pape, 

That  off  the  warld  is  mast  byschape, 

Suld  be  owre  byschapys  in  honoure, 

As  is  owre  kyngys  the  emprioure. 

Alsua  quha  that  to  the  kyrk  wald  fle, 

Thare  gyrth  he  suld  have  and  sauffte. 

Als  that  nane  ware  sa  hardy 

Wyth-in  ony  parochy 

Kyrk  to  byg,  or  oratore, 

Wyth-owtyn  lewe  gottyn  before  2900 

Off  byschape,  or  off  [the]  patrowne 

Off  that  parochy,  or  off  the  towne 

Quhare  that  byggyng  mad  suld  be. 

And  efftyre  that  neyst  ordanyd  he 

That  the  teyndys  off  all  feys, 

Landys,  and  regalyteis, 

And  off  alkyn  possessyown, 

Suld,  to  the  sustentatyown 

Off  Haly  Kyrk,  be  payit  ay. 

And  efftyre  than,  the  auchtand  day  2910 


368  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  V. 

Till  Saynct  Petrys  kyrk  in  hy 

He  come  bare  fute  devotly, 

And  mad  hys  confessiown, 

Wyth  gret  and  sare  contrityown, 

Off  all  the  synnys  that  he  had  done. 

A  mattok  syne  he  tuk,  but  hone, 

And  wyth  that  rypyd  to  the  grownd 

Quhare  that  he  thoucht  a  kyrk  to  fownde, 

And  on  hys  schuldrys  thare,  but  dowt, 

Off  erd  twelff  bakkatys  he  bare  owt.  2920 

Quhen  Constantyn  wpon  this  wys 
Was  howyn,  as  I  yhow  dewys, 
And  off  the  Eomanys  a  gret  delle 
Baptysyd  ware,  and  trowyt  welle, 
Be  the  ensawmpill  off  Constantyne, 
And  off  Saynct  Sylvestyr  the  prechyne, 
A  gret  part  off  the  cytezanys, 
And  mony  off  [the]  suburbanys, 
Senatowrys,  and  othir  [ma]  sere, 
That  noucht  baptysyd  na  trowand  were,  2930 

Assemblyd  befor  the  Emprioure 
f.  100.  b.        And  sayd  at  thai  wald  thaire  murmwre 
Eewelle  till  hym,  gyff  that  he 
Wald  noucht  at  thame  displesyd  be. 
And  quhen  he  gawe  thame  lewe  to  say 
All  that  in  thaire  gule  lay, 
Ane  for  all  than  spak  in  hy, 
And  sayd  that,  "  Throwch  the  novelry 
That  is  oysyd  in  till  Eome 

Syne  that  yhe  tuk  the  Crystyndome,  2940 

And  oure  falowys  has  lefft  the  fay 
That  oure  eldrys  held  alway, 
like*  day  is  oure  cyte 


CH.  x.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  369 

Stade  in  hard  perplexyte ; 
For,  as  yhe  wate,  and  has  hard  telle, 
Nere  here  by  a  dragowne  fell 
Wndyr  erd  in  a  cowe  lyis, 
And  to  the  towne  reparys  offtsys, 
And  as  he  rewmys  and  he  berys, 
All  the  towne  in  stynk  he  sterys,  2950 

Quhill  sex  thousand  on  a  day 
Throwch.  pestilens  qwyt  dede  away 
Now  comownaly  may  fundyn  be 
Off  yhowng  and  auld  in  oure  cyte*. 
The  madynnys,"  thai  said,  "  off  oure  land, 
Yhoung  daraysellys  and  awenand, 
Bath  ryche  and  pure  in  thare  degre*, 
Off  the  land  and  the  cyte", 
like  yhere  on  thare  best  wys 
Oysyd  to  mak  thare  sacrifys  2960 

Till  Dame  Westa  dewotly, 
That  wes  bath  goddes  and  lady, 
Thaire  hope,  thaire  heille,  and  [thar]  a  wo  we" 
Off  thaire  myrth  and  thare  jolyte  ; 
Than  thare  almws  halyly 
And  the  releyff  off  thare  mawngery, 
Thai  oysyd  to  cast  to  that  dragowne 
That  now  is  on  ws  rycht  fellowne. 
Swa  throwch  mycht  off  that  lady, 
And  releyff  off  that  mawngery,  2970 

Ay  still  in  till  hys  den  lay  he", 
And  noucht  anoyid  the  cyte  ; 
Bot  syne  yhe  and  thai  off  Borne 
Off  newe  now  has  tayne  Crystyndome, 
And  has  lefft  oure  eldrys  fay, 
We  are  anoyid  ilk[a]  day 
VOL.  i.  2  A 


370  THE  CRONYKIL  [B.  V. 

Throwe  owtrage  and  throw  wyolens 

Off  yhon  best  in  this  pestilens. 

For-thi,  Lord,  we  ask  yhowe,  hale, 

Off  this,"  thai  said,  "  now  yhoure  consalle         2980 

And  yhowre  helpe,  at  oure  cyte* 

And  we  may  sauff  wnperyst  be." 

Wyth  that  Sylvestyr  that  wes  by 
The  Empriowre,  and  mast  redy 
F.  101.      Off  answere,  bad  that  thai  suld  tell 

Hym  quhare  that  dragown  lay  sa  fell. 

And  quhen  thai  sayd  hym  that  thai  walde 

Ken  hym  to  that  bestys  halde, 

Till  his  orator  he  past, 

And  hym  revestyd  als[sa]  fast,  2990 

And  wyth  hys  clerkys  syne  in  hy, 

And  thai  Romanys  in  cumpany, 

Till  the  cove  off  that  dragowne 

He  yheid  in  till  processyowne, 

And  the  cros  on  his  body 

He  mad  offtsys  devotly, 

And  in  the  cove  syne  he 

Wnabasydly  mad  entre, 

A  hwndyr  greys  ewyn  dippand  down 

Wndyr  [the]  erd  to  that  dragown ;  3000 

And  throwch  hys  devote  prayare 

That  felowne  beste  sone  brystyd  thare  ; 

And  wpe  agayne  syne  as  he  past 

Wytht  yhettys  off  bras  he  closyt  fast 

Off  that  deipe  den  the  entre", 

That  nevyr  mare  sail  opnyd  be 

Befor  the  mekill  day  off  dome. 

Than  als[sa]  fast  [al]  thai  off  Rome 

That  befor  that  had  noucht  tane 


CH.  x.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  371 

Crystyndome,  than  trowyd  ilkane  3010 

In  Jhesu  Cryst,  and  baptisms  tuk, 
And  fals  mawmentys  qwyte  forsuke. 

Thus  Constantyne  wes  off  Eome 
The  fyrst,  that  tuk  Crystyndome 
Neyst  Philipe,  that  Decyus  fell 
Slwe,  as  yhe  before  herd  tell, 
And  to  the  Kyrk  gawe  all  the  land, 
That  Papys  sene  syne  had  in  thare  hand ; 
And  fefte  the  Kyrk  on  mony  wys 
Wytht  gret  and  fayre  and  fre  franchys.  3020 

On  hys  modyr  halff,  a  Brettowne 
He  wes  be  kynd  off  natyowne, 
For  he  wes  son  off  Saynct  Elane  ; 
And  off  hys  fadyr  half,  a  Eomane ; 
And  wes  in  hys  begynnyng 
Bot  anerly  off  Brettane  kyng. 


Eome  that  tyme  a  tyrande 
Cruell  and  austere  wes  regnand, 
That  had  to  name  Maxentius  : 
He  had  all  tyme  a  comowne  ws  3030 

Till  dysheryd  the  nobill-men, 
That  in  Eome  war  duelland  then, 
And  demanyd  the  empyre 
Wytht  tyrandyis,  and  werth,  and  ire. 
He  put  to  ded  Saynct  Katerine, 
That  gloryws  and  that  pure  virgyne  ; 
And  thai  that  chast  war  off  thaire  land, 
Come  till  Constantyn  till  warand, 
And  tauld  hym  off  hys  tyrandyis, 
F.  101.  b.     And  maid  hym  prayere  mony  wys  3040 


372  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  V. 

To  cum  wytht  thaime,  and  wyn  thare  land, 

And  hald  the  empyr  in  his  hand. 

He  went  with  ane  oste  gret  and  stowte 

Till  Rome,  and  maid  it  wndyr-lowte, 

And  syne  he  had  the  Monarchy 

Off  all  the  gret  Warld  halily. 

Constantyne  apon  this  wys 
Tyll  Eome  come,  as  I  yhow  dewys, 
And  thare  in  to  the  lepyr  felle, 
And  helyd  wes,  as  yhe  herd  me  telle.  3050 

Dame  Elane  and  hyr  emys  thre 
Wytht  hym  till  Eome  that  tyme  had  he  : 
And  deputys  behynd  hym  he  leffb 
To  keipe  Brettayne  tyll  hym  thare-efft. 

Bot  Octaveus  a  gret  man  syne, 
That  cummyn  wes  off  kyngys  lyne, 
Eas,  and  thai  deputys  has  slayne, 
And  held  the  kynrik  in  demayne. 
He  maid  hym  kyng,  and  off  the  land 
He  chasyd  hys  fays  wyth  stalwart  hand.  3060 

Quhen  this  tyll  Constantyne  was  tauld, 
Thre  legyownys  gret  off  knychtis  bauld 
Wyth  Dame  Elanys  erne  Traen 
In  tyll  Brettayne  send  he  then, 
That  aryvyd  wytht  mekyll  mawcht, 
And  Octaveus  thare  he  fawcht, 
And  wencust  hym  and  all  hys  mycht. 
Bot  he  etchapyt  fra  the  fycht, 
And  went  till  mychty  men  thare-by 
Te  sek  helpe  :  bot  specyaly  3070 

He  prayid  his  men,  thai  suld  thame  ma 
Wytht  sum  slycht  Traen  to  sla : 
And  an  erle  off  hys  cumpany 


CH.  x.] 


OF  SCOTLAND. 


373 


F.  102. 


Watyde  Traen  sa  bysily, 

That  wytht  ane  buschement  he  had  slayne 

Traen.     Octaveus  than  agayne 

Come  in  to  Brettayne,  and  tuk  the  lande 

All  hale  agayne  in  till  his  hand. 

He  chasyd  the  Eomaynys  al  away, 

And  wes  kyng  till  hys  enday.  3080 

All  this  tyme  off  the  empyre 
Constantyne  wes  lord  and  syre, 
And  Sylvestyr  Pape  off  Rome, 
And  kepare  off  all  Crystyndome. 
He  maid  wyth  gret  dewotyowne 
Solempne  dedicatiowne 
Off  the  kyrk  in  till  hys  dayis  ; 
To  that  ensawmpyll  yhit  alwayis 
That  [is]  oysyd  ilk[a]  yhere, 

As  the  tyme  fallys  [annywersere].  3090 

And  quhen  that  he  awterys  off  stane 
In  ilke  kyrke  gert  fyrst  ordane, 
In  till  Saynct  Savioris  kyrk  he 
The  fyrst  awtere,  made  off  tre, 
He  gert  hald  wp,  for  Petyr  ay 
On  it  oysyd  hys  Mes  to  say ; 
And  all  othir  in  thare  lywe 
Efftyr  hym  Papys  successywe, 
Quhill  this  Sylvestyr  rysyn  was, 
On  it  oysyd  to  say  thare  Mes.  3100 

For  the  persecutyowne, 
That  ay  wes  dowtows  and  fellowne, 
There  wes  na  place  off  stedfastnes 
Quhar-in  prestys  mycht  syng  thare  Mes ; 
Bot  in  tyll  honest  howsys  sere, 
Quhare  men  off  gud  fame  duelland  were, 


374  THE  CKONYKIL  [B.  V. 

Or  wndyr  erd  in  cawys  depe, 

That  men  oysyd  fra  fylthe  to  kepe, 

Or  betwene  howsys  and  pentys 

That  ordanyd  were  off  sere  qwentys,  3110 

Prestys  foure  oysyde  to  bere 

To  swylk  stedys  that  awtere, 

That  wytht  four  nwkys  holl  wes  mad, 

In  ilk  4  nwke  a  ryng  it  had, 

And  prestys  foure  oysyde  to  bere 

Wyth  thai  foure  ryngys  that  awtere. 

The  Comete,  as  the  story  sayis, 
Fyrst  apperyd  in  thai  dayis ; 
That  is  a  starne  wyth  blesys  schyre, 
Brycht  as  is  the  lowe  off  fyre,  3120 

And  ay  betakynnys  pestilens ; 
Quhen  that  it  makys  apperens. 
Dede  off  lordys,  or  hungyr  sare, 
And  ay  the  beme  it  strekys  thare 
Quhare  that  infortune  sail  rys  ; 
That  the  Comete  signyfyis. 

Constantyne  the  Empriowre 
Hys  lyff  than  endyt  wyth  honoure. 
In  Eome  than  ras  dyssentyowne 
Abowte  the  successyowne  3130 

To  the  empyre ;  for  Maximiane 
And  the  fell  Dyoclytyane, 
Off  quham  before  yhe  herd  me  tell, 
Fra  thare  state  of  the  empyre  fell : 
Off  cownsalle  and  [of]  ane  assent, 
And  wndelyveryde  awysement, 
To  thaire  state  thai  ranownsyde  hale 
For  thai  sustene  wald  na  trawale, 
And  thocht  tyll  lywe  off  thare  tresore 


CH.  x.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  375 

That  thai  had  gadryd  lang  before  3140 

In  ese  and  qwyete,  but  trawale, 
And  thole  thaim  [to]  tak  the  governale 
That  suld  succede  be  lynage 
To  the  empyre  off  herytage. 
F.  102.  b.       This  consent  wes  done  in-dede 

And  let  the  ayrys  be  laucht  succede. 

Efftyr  all  this  Maximiane 
Agayne  the  Empyre  wald  have  tane ; 
And  for  that  caus  in  tyll  gret  stryffe 
He  [lede]  a  lange  tyme  off  hys  lyffe  3150 

Wyth  Constantynys  sonnys  thre, 
That  anelyd  to  that  ryawte". 

Octaveus  in  to  thai  dayis, 
As  off  the  Brute  the  story  sayis, 
Off  [al]  Brettayne  hale  wes  kyng, 
And  had  that  land  in  governyng. 

He  had  a  douchtyr  yhong  and  fayre, 
That  off  laucht  than  wes  hys  ayre ; 
Hys  counsale  mast  part  thowcht,  that  he 
Suld  ger  that  douchtyr  maryd  be  3160 

Wyth  sum  ryche  man  for  hys  ryches : 
And  Conane-Meryaduk,  that  wes 
Hys  nevew,  neyst  [hym]  suld  be  kyng, 
For  he  wes  neyst  off  thare  offspryng. 
Bot  Baradok  Duke  off  Cornwayle 
Thoucht,  it  suld  welle  mayr  awayle 
To  feche  at  Eome  Maximiane, 
That  off  the  empriowrys  wes  ane. 
Swa  it  fell  hym  syne,  that  he 
In  Brettayne  come  wyth  gret  menyhe,  3170 

And  that  lady  to  wyff  has  tane. 
Sa  wrathe  at  that  than  wes  Conane, 


376  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  V. 

That  he  assemblyd  all  hys  mycht, 
And  mellayd  welle  offt  into  fycht, 
And  owrcome  quhylle  [he,  qwhile]  he, 
Qwhyll  at  the  last  the  hale  barne* 
Off  Brettayne  knyt  thame  in  sawchtnyng, 
Bot  Maximiane  be  lefft  kyng. 


that  fywe  yhere  ware  efftyre  gane, 
Swa  prydyt  hym  Maximiane  3180 

For  hys  gret  sylvyr  and  ryches, 
That  hym  thowcht  Brettayne  lytyll  wes 
For  to  mayntene  hys  ryawte* 
Bot  he  wald  ga  wyn  Frawns  all  fre. 
Tharfore  all  the  chewalry, 
That  wes  in  Brettayne,  halyly 
He  wytht  hym  to  the  Se  has  tane, 
And  alsua  Myreadok-Conane. 
And  Armaryk  fyrst  conqwest  he, 
That  Lytill  Brettayne  now  cal  we;  3190 

And  all  that  gave  he  to  Conane  : 
And  syne  off  Brettayne  gert  be  tane 
Off  hwsbandys  a  hundyre  thowsand, 
Till  inhabyt  and  hald  that  land  ; 
And  fyftene  thowsand  armyt  men 
Wyth  hym  als  he  lewyt  then  ; 
And  Lytill  Brettayne  gert  it  call. 
F.  103.        This  Conane  and  hys  ofspryng  all 
Governyd  it  sa  wyttyly  ay, 
That  it  hate  Brettayne  to  this  day.  3200 

Quhen  Maximiane  wonnyn  had 
All  Frawns,  and  till  him  subjecte  mad 
Treverys,  [he]  to  Eome  went  syne, 


CH.  x.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  377 

Quhare  he  slayne  wes  be  cuvyne 

Off  the  Empriowre  Gratyane. 

All  thus  endyt  Maximiane, 

And  [the]  Brettownys,  that  wyth  hym  ware, 

Ware  slayne,  and  chasyd  here  and  thare : 

And  the  Quhene,  that  etchapyd  than, 

In  Brettayne  passyd  till  Conan.  3210 


Q 


WHEN  thai  off  Dacy  and  Sythy 
Saw,  quhow  Brettayne  wes  wtraly 
Lewyd  all  woyd  off  armyt  men, 
In  Brettane  thai  arywyd  then, 
And  townys  and  castellys  wp  has  tane : 
For  wyth  hyrn  had  Maximiane 
All  the  gud  fechtarys  off  the  land ; 
Nane  lefft,  that  evyr  wytht  strenthe  off  hand 
Mycht  warand  the  small  folk  fra  the  fycht, 
Na  for  [to]  stynt  thare  fayis  mycht.  3220 

Bot  fra  Eome  come  twa  legyownys 
Till  help  and  succoure  the  Brettownys ; 
Munyceps  Gratyane  than  was 
Thare  chyftane,  that  the  86*  can  pass. 
Wytht  thare  fayis  he  met  in  fycht, 
And  wencust  thame  wyth  mekyll  mycht, 
And  chasyd  thame  till  Yrland. 

Syne  off  Gret  Brettane  all  the  land 
He  tuk  till  hym,  and  mad  hym  kyng. 
Bot  he  wes  in  sum  kyn  thyng  3230 

Tyrand,  that  [the]  comownys  halyly 
Has,  and  slw  hym  dyspytwsly. 

Quhen  he  was  dede,  thai  that  fled  ware 
Tyll  Yrland,  agayn  cummyn  are 


378  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  V. 

In  Brettayne,  and  it  wastyd  more, 
Than  evyr  thai  had  done  before. 

The  Brettownys  than  that  wyst  na  rede 
Till  help  thame-selwyn  fra  the  dede, 
Send  word  [to  Eome]  thare  help  to  crawe, 
And  sayd,  thai  wald  thaim  al  tyme  hawe          3240 
To  thaire  lordys,  gyff  that  thai 
Wald  put  thare  fays  wytht  fecht  away. 
Than  thai  off  Eome  a  legyowne  sent, 
That  hastyly  to  Brettan  went, 
And  put  tha  alyenis  away. 

A  Wall  thare-efftyr  ordanyt  thai 
For  to  be  made  betwene  Scotland 
And  thame,  swa  that  it  mycht  wythstand 
Thare  fays,  that  thame  swa  skayth[it]  hade  ; 
F.  103.  b.      And  it  off  comon  cost  thai  maid  ;  3250 

And  yhit  men  callys  it  Th[r]yl  Wai 

Quhen  this  was  done  that  I  say  all, 
The  Eomanys  to  Eome  has  tane  thare  way. 
Bot,  or  thai  went,  thai  can  thaim  say, 
That  thai  wald  cum  na  mare  agayne  : 
For,  or  thai  suffere  wald  swylk  a  payne, 
And  for  thame  offt  be  trawalit  swa, 
Thaire  tribwte  lewyre  thai  wald  forga. 


that  the  Eomanys  passyt  ware, 
The  alienis,  that  [war]  chasyd  are,  3260 

Eepayryd,  and  nere  all  the  land 
Dystroyit  wyth  fyre  and  fellown  hand. 
The  Walle  bot  litill  helpe  thame  made  ; 
For  thai,  that  it  in  kepyng  hade, 
Ware  drawyn  wytht  crukys  oure  the  wall, 


CH.  x.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  379 

Quhill  thai  fled,  and  lewyt  [it]  all. 
Than  thaire  fayis,  that  laysere  had, 
Sloppys  in  syndry  placis  mad. 

The  Bretownys  wyst  na  counsell  than ; 
Bot  a  byschope,  a  worthy  man,  3270 

In  Litill  Brettayne  till  Audroen 
Thai  send,  that  thare  wes  regnand  then, 
To  byd  hym  cum,  and  be  thare  kyng ; 
For  he  wes  off  the  ofspryng 
Off  Brwtus,  that  all  Brettane  wan, 
And  in  the  ferd  gre  fra  Conane. 

He  wald  nawys  thare-till  assent ; 
Bot  [his]  brudyre  wytht  hym  [he]  sent, 
Constantyus,  and  twa  thowsand 
Off  men  armyt  bathe  fute  and  hand.  3280 

Thai  arrywyt,  and  syne  fawcht, 
And  thare  fayis  wyth  mekyll  mawcht 
Wencust,  and  chasyd  off  the  land. 
Than  the  barnage  tuk  on  hand 
To  mak  thare  kyng  this  Constantyne, 
That  the  land  welle  governyd  syne. 

Now  I  suspend  here  off  Brettayne 
The  storys,  quhill  I  have  ouretane 
Off  the  Eomanys  the  storys 
A  part,  as  yhe  herd  me  dywys.  3290 


E 


FFTYRE  the  dede  off  Sylvestyr 
Mark  succedyt,  [and]  twa  yhere 
Aucht  moneth  and  twenty  dayis 
He  Pape  was,  and  the  story  sayis, 
At  solempne  Mess[is]  he 
Ordanyd  that  the  Creyd  suld  be 


380  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  V. 

Sayd  or  songyn,  as  the  Mes 
Done  wyth  note  or  prywe  wes. 

Quhen  this  Mark  [the]  dede  had  tane 
Julyus  succedyt,  a  Eomane,  3300 

F.  104.       And  Pape  off  Rome  wes  ellewyn  yhere 
Twa  moneth  and  aucht  dayis  clere. 
A  gret  Senyhe  gaderyt  he 
In  tyll  Nyce[a]  that  cyte", 
Thre  hundyre  byschopys  and  auchtene 
In  to  that  Senyhe  solempne  ware  sene. 
Saynct  Hylare  and  Saynct  Nicholas 
That  tynie  in  thare  statys  was, 
And  mony  odyr  byschopys  ma. 
Anastas  that  tyme  allsua  3310 

Mad  Quicunque  wult  in  dede, 
Quhare  all  the  artyclys  off  the  Crede 
Ar  dystynythalyly; 

Quha  trowys  noucht  in  thame  stedfastly, 
Lyppyn  he  nevyr  sauff  to  be 
Fra  the  pyne  off  hell  all  fre. 
That  Senyhe  condamnyt  halyly 
Off  Arryus  the  heresy  : 
He  [helde]  that  Goddys  Sone  wes  les 
In  Godheide  than  the  Fadyr  wes ;  3320 

Off  the  Fadyr  and  the  Son  sua  he 
Denyid  the  equalyte". 
The  Senyhe  made  condamnatyowne 
Off  that  fals  oppynnyowne. 


A.D.       m 

345.        J_  HEE  hundyr  fy we  and  fourty  yhere 

Efftyr  the  byHh  off  oure  Lord  dere, 
Off  Constantyne  the  sonnys  thre 


CH.  x.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  381 

That  wyth  [his]  body  gottyn  had  he, 
In  [t]hys  tyme  to  the  empyre  ras  ; 
Constantyne  the  eldast  was,  3330 

Neyst  Constans,  syne  Constantyus, 
Thir  thre  bredyre  callyd  war  thus. 
Amang  thame-selff  gret  were  thai  mad, 
And  thai  off  Eome  gret  scathys  had 
Throwch  thare  were  and  thare  fechtyng, 
That  enduryt  and  had  lestyng 
Fully  foure  and  twenty  yhere, 
The  Eomanys  all  anoyit  were. 
Bot  the  eldest  Constantyne 

Wan  fra  hys  twa  bredyre  syne  3340 

Hale  the  empyre,  and  was  than 
Empriowre  and  gud  Crystyn  man. 
The  yhongest  off  the  bredyre  thre, 
That  Constantyus  ere  callyd  we, 
Had  wyth  hym  men  off  cownsall  fell 
That  ware  in  dedys  rycht  cruell ; 
Tha  the  eldare  bruthir  slwe. 
F.  104.  b.        Constantyus  to  the  empyre  drwe, 

And  governyd  it  wyth  gret  stowtnes, 

Bot  a  foule  herytyk  he  wes,  3350 

And  lywyt  all  in  to  that  fay 

That  Arryus  held  in  tyll  hys  day  ; 

For  hym  [and  his]  oppynnyown 

He  made  ay  gret  defensyown. 

Off  Constantynopill  quhare  than  he  had 

Hys  duellyng  and  hys  prechyng  mad, 

For  hys  oppynnyown  the  clergy 

Gert  hym  be  sowmownd  rycht  stratly, 

To  here  the  condamnatyowne 

Off  his  fals  oppynyowne.  3360 


382  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  V. 

Swa  on  that  certane  set  day, 

That  for  that  caus  assygnyd  thai, 

As  this  Arryws  hym  sped 

Till  that  assignyd  certane  sted, 

Off  nede,  swa  he  oure-takyn  wes 

That  hym  behowyd  to  do  hys  es  : 

Wyth  hast  thare-fore  he  tuk  hys  sete 

[Opyn  and]  playne  in  the  markete, 

Thare  thrawand  thrystys  hard  hym  thiystyt 

Quhill  hys  bowalys  wyth-in  hym  brystyt,         3370 

Hys  guttys  rawe,  bath  gret  and  small, 

And  [his]  kwnditys  opynnyd  all ; 

For  the  stynk  off  his  foule  gare 

Mony  that  abowte  hym  ware 

To  ded  brystyd ;  and  all  thus 

The  end  fell  off  foule  Arryus. 

Donate  than  wes  in  his  state, 
And  in  that  tyme  hys  libell  wrate, 
That  now  barnys  oysys  to  lere 
At  thaire  begynnyng  off  gramere :  3380 

And  Saynct  Jerome  in  thai  yheris 
The  best  wes  callyd  off  his  scoleris. 

Off  Saynct  Andrew  the  body  was 
That  tyme  translatyd  fra  Patras 
Till  Constantynopill :  and  [of]  Saynct  Luke 
The  body  als,  as  sayis  the  buke, 
Translatyd  wes  that  tyme  alsua. 

Julyane  the  Apostata 
In  ane  Abay  mwnk  hym  made, 
For  off  Constantyus  dowte  he  had  3390 

That  he  wald  hym  to  dede  ha  we  done, 
Bot  yhit  he  changyd  purpos  sone, 
For  all  tyme  fra  land  to  land 


CH.  x.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  383 

In  habit  off  nrwnk  he  wes  vagand. 
For  he  wes  to  gud  Constantyne 
Brodyre  sone  and  nere  cusyne, 
F.  105.       He  yharnyt  tyll  have  bene  emprioure, 
And  ay  anelyd  to  that  honowre, 
And  for-thi  quhare[evyr]  he  past, 
At  wychys  and  at  spaymen  fast  3400 

He  thraly  speryt  gyve  that  he 
Mycht  ewyre  opteyne  and  wyn  that  gre. 
In  lyklyness  off  a  spayman, 
Off  cas  the  dewyll  spak  wyth  hym  than, 
And  sayd  he  suld  be  empriowre ; 
Swa  fell  he  sone  in  swilk  erroure, 
That  he  away  kest  fra  hym  qwyte 
The  mwnkys  rewle  and  the  habyte, 
And  throch  that  dewillys  suggestyowne 
He  made  renuncyatyowne  3410 

Off  baptysme  and  off  Crystyne  fay, 
And  lywyd  furth  in  paganys  lay. 

_L  HAN"  ras  he  Empryowre  in  the  sted 

Off  Constantyus  quhen  he  wes  dede. 

For  leth  and  felny  that  he  had 

Till  Crystyne  men,  gret  lawys  he  mad 

Agayne  thare  Crystyndome ;  sa  mony 

Wndyr  hym  deyd  throwch  martyry ; 

Paule  and  Jhone  thare  passyowne 

Tholyt  wndyr  hys  persecutyowne.  3420 

Off  Mede  the  kynryk,  and  off  Pers, 
And  Asy,  as  I  herd  rehers, 
He  wan  till  hys  subjectiowne, 
And  tuk  thare  contributyowne. 


384  THE  CRONYKIL  [B.  V. 

Throwch  Capades  syne  as  he  past 

Saynct  Basyle  he  anoyit  fast, 

That  byschope  wes  off  that  cyt^  than, 

And  wes  off  lyff  a  haly  man  : 

This  Julyane  made  in  to  that  qwhille 

Gret  manans  tyll  [this]  Saynct  Basille  3430 

And  till  othir  Crystyne  men 

That  wndyr  hys  powste  lywyd  then. 

Than  this  Saynct  Basyle  specyaly 

Hys  prayer  mad  till  oure  Lady, 

Wyth  thra  and  gret  devotyowne, 

In  fastyng  and  in  urysowne, 

That  scho  wald  sum  wengeance  ta 

Off  Julyane  that  Apostata. 

Swa  slepand  on  a  nycht  hym  thoucht 

All  sudanly  that  he  wes  browcht  3440 

In  till  a  kyrk  off  oure  Lady, 

Quhare  men  and  woman  war  mony ; 

Sum  on  kneyis  in  urysown, 

And  sum  in  contemplatyown, 

That  thoucht  off  halynes  suld  be 

Callyd  and  haldyn  in  propyrte ; 

F.      105.    b.  F01.     Wyg      JngJJ      gUl(J      QJJ      Jjg^      kyn      ftys 

Oys  ony  othir  merchandys, 

In  chapel,  kyrk,  or  orator, 

Bot  that  that  thai  ar  ordanyd  for;  3450 

That  is  contemplatyown 

Or  prayer  wyth  devotyon. 

This  haly  byschope  Saynct  Basyle 

Slepand  saw,  in  to  that  quhille, 

The  ymage  off  oure  Lady  brycht 

Downe  [out]  off  ane  tabernakyU  lycht, 

That  outhe  [the]  autere  standand  was, 


OH.  x.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  385 

And  tuk  hyr  rayk  wyth  mov[and]  pas 

But  in  the  kyrk,  wyth-owtyn  bade, 

Quhare  that  a  grawe  off  new  wes  made,  3460 

And  layd  in  till  it  a  dede  knycht, 

That  Mercurius  callyd  wes  rycht. 

Than  Basyle  herd  that  ymage  say 

To  the  body  that  thare  lay, 

"  Rys,  Mercurius,  rys  and  sla 

Julyane  the  Apostata, 

And  wyth  wengeans  sa  thow  qwyte 

The  defoule  and  the  dyspyte 

That  that  herytyk  has  done 

To  me,"  scho  sayd,  "  and  to  my  Sone."  3470 

Wyth  that  the  ymage  als[sa]  fast 

Off  oure  Ladye  agayne  past, 

And  in  the  tabernakyll  yhede  ; 

The  dede  body  ras,  gud  spede, 

And  tuk  a  spere  in  till  hys  hand, 

That  in  the  kyrk  he  saw  lyand, 

And  raykyt  off  the  kyrk  hys  way. 

The  byschape  Basyle  quhare  he  lay 

Than  waknyt  and  oure-drawe  that  nycht 

Quhill  on  the  morne  that  day  wes  lycht ;         3480 

Than  herd  he  tell  that  Julyane 

Ourtakyn  wes  wyth  dede  subytane ; 

Then  past  he  to  the  kyrk  in  hy, 

And  thare  the  spere  he  fand  bludy. 

Than  wes  Saynct  Martyne  in  hys  flowris, 
And  othir  syndry  confessowris 
Till  hym  ware  contemporane. 
In  Scotland  than  Saynct  Nynyane 
In  tyll  the  tyme  that  Martyne  wes, 
Led  hys  lyff  in  halynes.  3490 

VOL.  i.  2  B 


386  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  V. 

And  be  oure  Comykyll  off  Scotland 
Garnat-Kych  was  than  regnand 
Kyng  oure  [the]  Pechtis  fourty  yhere. 
Syne  quhen  hys  dayis  endyt  were, 
[Talarge]  wes  kyng,  and  led  hys  ly ve 
In  Scotland  twenty  yhere  and  fywe, 
Till  all  the  yheris  war  oure-gayne 
Off  Constantyne  and  Julyane, 
And  all  the  empryowrys  be  dene, 
That  betwene  thame  twa  had  bene.  3500 


F.  106.        JjIBEE,  Felix  and  Damasus, 
Efftyre  the  dede  off  Julyus, 
Off  Eome  ware  papys  in  thare  lywe 
Ilkane  till  othir  successywe. 
This  Damasus  I  herd  rehers 
Couth  mak  rycht  well  in  metyre  wers, 
Saynct  Jerome  wrate  till  hym,  but  were, 
Amang  othire  haly  wryttys  sere, 
Gloria  Patri  in  [till]  twa  wers ; 
And  bade  that  he  suld  ay  rehers  3510 

Efftyre  ilk  Psalme  tha  twa ; 
All  haly  kyrk  yhit  oysys  swa. 

Quhen  Damasus  wes  pape  off  Eome, 
The  gloryus  doctor  Saynct  Jerome 
Wes  hys  luwyd  famyliare, 
And  translatyd  the  psaltare 
At  hys  request  and  his  instans. 
This  Damasus  made  ordynans 
That  prestys  and  clerkys  in  to  the  qwere 
Suld  stand,  as  now  is  the  manere,  3520 

On  ilk[a]  syd  ordenaly, 


CH.  x.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  387 

And  off  the  Psalmys  dystynctly 

The  ta  part  suld  the  fyrst  wers  say, 

The  tothir  syd  the  neyst  wers  ay 

Suld  begyn,  and  ilk  [a]  syd 

Suld  wayte  thare  tymys  and  abyde, 

And  wers  sa  efftyr  wers  suld  say 

Quhill  endyt  all  the  Psalme  had  thai, 

And  Gloria  Patri  at  the  fyne, 

Wyth  Sicut  erat  eff tyre  syne :  3530 

All  Haly  kyrk  efftyre  thai  dayis 

Syn  syne  has  haldyn  this  oys  always. 

Efftyr  the  dede  off  Julyane 
Jovyne  and  Valentynyane 
Empreowris  war  successy we ; 
Bot  Valentyne  in  to  the  lywe 
T      Off  the  Apostata  Julyane 

Off  all  hys  knychtys  wes  chyfftane, 

And  than,  as  hym  behowyd  on  nede 

Tyll  lewe  Crystyndome,  or  knychthede,  3540 

He  lefft  hys  knychtys  off  gud  wyll, 

And  Crystyne  trowth  he  chesyd  hym  till : 

Bot  syne  efftyr  that  Julyane 

Wes  endyt  wyth  dede  subytane, 

To  that  fell  persecutoure 

He  hapnyt  to  be  successoure. 

The  Saxonys  that  ware  wycht, 
And  agayne  Rome  mekyll  off  mycht ; 
Wyth  hys  nawyne  apon  the  s4 
And  wytht  hys  ost  abawndonde  he.  3550 

F.  106.  b.         Fayre  off  fassowne  and  off  face, 
And  sutyle  off  ingyne  he  was ; 
Pert  off  wult,  and  eloquent, 
And  ewynlyk  in  till  jugement ; 


388  THE  CEONYKIL  [B.  V. 

Off  wordis  few,  and  myld  off  mwde, 
And  in  all  thyng  off  hawyng  gude. 

Hys  brodyre  Walens  held  that  fay, 
That  Arryus  held  in  till  hys  day  : 
All  Crystyne  men  he  thoucht  for-thi 
Tyll  have  dysesyt  grettumly ;  3560 

Bot  Walentyne  this  empreowre 
Eesystyd  ay  till  hys  erroure. 

Durst-Hyrbsone  in  Scotland 
Wes  oure  the  Pechtis  kyng  regnand, 
And  held  that  state  a  hundyre  yhere, 
And  dyd  a  hundyr  batalys  sere. 

JlrflTTYEE  the  dede  off  Damasus, 

The  Pape  off  Eome,  Syrycius, 

Ellewyn  moneth,  and  xv  yhere, 

And  fywe  and  twenty  dayis  clere,  3570 

The  Se  he  held  as  pape  off  Eome. 

The  clerk  in  hys  tyme  Say  net  Jerome 

Translated  the  Bybill  off  Hebrwe, 

The  Testymentys  bath  Auld  and  Newe 

He  translatyd  in  Latyne. 

In  tyll  his  tyme  Saynt  Austyne 

Eessawyd  off  newe  Crystyndome 

Quhill  this  Syryce  wes  pape  off  Eome, 

Saynt  Ambros  in  the  Anfeuere 

Antemys  mad,  and  Eespondys  sere,  3580 

And  in  it  wersyklys  als  can  wryte, 

Syne  ymnys  he  made  in  till  fayre  dyte, 

Aftd  [the]  antemys  ordanyd  he 

Amang  the  Psalmys  sayd  to  be 

At  Matynys  and  at  Ewynsang. 


CH.  x.]  OF  SCOTLAND.  389 

At  Prime  and  Howris  thare-amang : 
Fyrst  on  this  wys  and  in  this  manere 
Begouth  oure  serwyce  in  the  qwere. 

And  in  this  tyme  yhe  herd  me  telle 
In  Emaws  quhar  wes  a  castell,  3590 

A  barne  thar  wes  that  tyme  borne, 
That  few  off  swylk  wes  sene  beforne, 
For  at  the  nawyll  it  was  a  mas, 
And  outhe  and  neuthe  dyvysyd  it  was, 
Wytht  foure  eyne  and  hewydys  twa, 
Foure  eyrys,  and  foure  browys  alsua, 
Twa  mowthys  dowbill-tuthyd  wyth-in, 
Neyssys  twa,  wyth  doubill  chyn, 
And  foure  handys  it  hade  yhete, 
With  twenty  fyngrys  and  foure  fete,  3600 

-      Twenty  tays  it  had  rycht  swa, 

Betwene  the  theys  yherdys  twa ; 
F.  107.       And  dowbyll  wyt  be  lyklynes, 
In  to  that  barne  apperand  wes, 
For  quhen  the  ta  hewyd  oysyd  to  slepe 
The  tothir  than  wald  waik  or  wepe, 
And  quhen  the  tane  wald  tak  the  mete 
Than  wald  the  tothir  nevyr  ete. 
The  barne  wes  lywand  twa  yhere 
On  this  wys  and  this  manere,  3610 

And  quhen  the  ta  parte  wes  dede  away 
The  tothir  lywyd  quhill  the  thryd  day. 

Than  wes  Orosius  in  his  state, 
And  hys  buk  till  Saynct  Austyne  wrate. 


G 


ALYEUS  syne,  and  Gratyane, 
And  yhong  Valentynyane, 


390  THE  CRONYKIL  [B.  V. 

Off  the  Ernpyre  the  reawte' 

Foure  yhere  held  amang  thame  thre. 

Syne  ras  the  secund  Gratyane, 

And  hys  brodyr  Valentynyane,  3620 

And  Theodosius,  all  thre, 

Sex  yhere  held  that  ryawte. 

This  Gratyane  thare-efftyre  syne 

Come  off  were  till  Argentyne, 

And  thretty  thowsand  in  [till]  fycht 

Thare  off  his  fayis  to  dede  he  dycht, 

Throw  wertu  off  the  Crystyne  fay 

That  stedfastly  he  held  alway ; 

For  in  hys  tyme  all  Ytaly 

Off  Arrius  held  the  heresy,  3630 

Bot  in  till  hys  dayis  he 

Gert  it  all  conwertyd  be. 

He  wes  off  gret  literature, 

In  mete  and  drynk  off  gret  mesure, 

All  lust  off  body  he  ourcome, 

And  endyd  syne  in  Crystyndome. 


CHAP.  XL 


ODff  the 

Jlnb  the  hg0.ch.qp*  ,Sagttct 

A.D.       m 

387.        J_  HRE  hundyre  yhere,  foure  score  and  sewyn 

Efftyre  the  byrth  off  God  off  Hewyn, 

Teodosius  past  in  were 

In  to  e^rece,  wytht  gret  powere,  3640 

And  wan  the  towne  off  Tessaly, 

Ane  gret  [cyte]  and  a  mychty, 


CH.  XL]  OF  SCOTLAND.  391 

That  had  conspyryde  in  gret  ire 
Agayne  the  state  off  the  empyre. 
Hys  lutenandys  thai  slwe  thare, 
And  offycerys  that  off  hym  bare 
Cure  or  state,  thai  slw  all  downe 
In  to  that  wpset  rycht  fellowne ; 
This  Teodosius,  for-thi, 

Gert  sla  all  downe  wyth-owt  mercy,  3650 

F.  107.  b.         Wyth  thai  mysdoarys  saclas  blu.de, 
That  sowmyt  wes  in  multitude 
Fywe  thowsand.  men,  bathe  barne  and  wyffe, 
And  wele  ma  thare  leffb  the  lyff ; 
And  effbyre  that  destructyowne 
Owt  off  that  land  he  mad  hym  bowne, 
And  come  in  Lumbardy  agayne 
-       Ewyne  to  the  cyte  off  Mylayne. 

Saynct  Ambroys  the  haly  man, 
That  byschape  off  that  towne  wes  than,  3660 

And  herd  how  that  saclas  blude 
Wes  spylt  in  tyll  sic  multitude. 
As  Teodosius  on  a  day 
Fra  hys  palace  tuk  hys  way 
Towarte  the  kyrk  :  in  to  that  quhille 
This  Saynt  Ambros  wyth-owte  the  style 
Hym  met,  and  sayd,  "  Quhare  art  thow  bowne  ? 
I  mak  th£  inhybytyowne 
In  Goddys  kyrk  to  mak  entre, 
Quhill  thi  trespas  amendyd  be.  3670 

Thow  kennys  th£  as  empryowre, 
And  noucht  thi  dedys  off  horroure, 
Can  thow  noucht  ken  the  fellown 
Charge  off  thi  presumptyowne, 
Becaus  off  thi  gret  wodnes 


392  THE  CRONYKIL  [B.  V. 

Quhare  slayne  mony  ware  sacles, 
Bot  the  welth  that  thow  art  in 
Gerris  the*  perchans  mysknawe  thi  syne ; 
Tharefore  it  worthys  that  resowne 
Wnrewlyd  statys  inbawdowne.  3680 

Cure  nature,  certys,  ay  suld  be 
Knawyn,  and  owre  mortalyte, 
And  off  oure  tyme  the  lettyre  day ; 
The  powdyr  off  oure  eldrys  ay 
That  lywyd  in  thare  tyme  before 
Ay  suld  we  draw  till  oure  memore, 
And  off  quhat  thyng  that  we  ar  wrocht ; 
And  till  quhat  end  we  mon  be  browcht. 
Nowthir  in  pyth  off  oure  yhowthed, 
Na  in  fresch  coloure  off  oure  fayrhed,  3690 

Na  in  [to]  robys  off  purpure, 
Is  off  oure  stays  the  honowre, 
That  felys  the  infyrmyte' 
Off  brukyll  fleysch,  bot  yhit  ar  we 
Ay  lyk  till  men  in  oure  nature 
For  all  the  hycht  off  oure  honure. 
Thow  art  bot  serwand  yhit,  I  wys, 
Off  swylk  serwandys  as  thow  is ; 
A  lord  is  God,  at  we  [on]  call, 
Kyng  and  makare  off  ws  all,  3700 

How  dare  thow  wyth  thi  eyne  se 
The  tempil  off  the  Trynyte*, 
How  may  it  cum  in  thine  intent 
F.  108.         To  stampe  on  halowyd  pathement 
Wyth  thai  fete  that  sa  fast  yhude 
For  till  spyll  the  sacles  blude ; 
How  may  thow  hewe  thai  handys  in  hycht 
TyU  Hewyn,  or  till  God  off  mycht, 


CH.  XL]  OF  SCOTLAND.  393 

Quhare-off  sacles  blud  drepand 

Yhit  wanhewys  bath  slew  and  hand ;  3710 

How  may  it  fall  in  thine  intent 

Tyll  ask  the  haly  sacrament  ? 

Pas  hame  agayne,  and  pres  the"  noucht 

To  that  fyrst  syn  that  thow  has  wroucht, 

For  till  eyke  ma  quhill  thow  that  mend, 

And  that  quhat  God  will  on  the  send. 

Perchans  it  may  be  medycyne 

The  cumbyre  that  thow  art  fallyn  in." 

Thir  wordys  all  the  empryowre, 

As  cunnand  man  off  literatoure,  3720 

Herd,  and  consayvyd  welle 

Quhat  fell  to  presthad  ilke  dele, 

[And]  past  hame  agayne  wyth  sare  sychyng, 

Menand  hys  state  in  gret  murnyng, 

Till  aucht  moneth  nere  ware  past, 

And  Yhule  thareefft  wes  cumand  fast, 

The  tyme  that  Jhesu  Cryst  wes  borne, 

To  sauffe  oure  lyff  that  wes  forlorne. 

Than  Ewyffyne  hys  famylyere 

That  in  all  tyme  wes  till  hym  dere,  3730 

Speryt  the  cans  off  his  laugure  ; 

Than  sayd  till  hym  the  empryowre, 

Menand  gretly  hys  trespas, 

"  Allace !  alias  !  that  I  borne  was 

Matere,  or  any  caus  to  ma, 

The  kyrk  to  be  remowyde  fra, 

That  comowne  is  to  knawe  and  knycht, 

And  all  that  Crystyne  man  is  rycht, 

Tyll  fre-man,  gentyll,  and  to  thrall, 

The  kyrk  is  oppyn,  and  kepys  all  3740 

That  cummys  wyth  dewotyowne 


394  THE  CBONYKIL  [B.  V. 

Till  God  to  mak  thare  orysowne ; 

Is  stekyd  for  my  mysdede  me  fra, 

And  hewyn  is  closyt  fra  me  alsua." 

Than  sayd  Euffyne,  "  I  will  ga  trete, 

But  ony  worde  off  awe  or  threte, 

Wyth  the  byschope,  to  chawng  or  thrawe 

Hys  decrete  in  myldare  lawe." 

Till  that  than  answeryd  Teodos, 

"  Pas  on,  bot  I  trow  that  Ambros  3750 

Sail  newyre  decerne  bot  that  is  rycht, 

And  that  decrete,  be  nakyn  mycht 

Off  knycht,  or  kyng,  or  empryowre, 

Or  clergy,  may  be  made  erroure, 

Na  nevyr  sail  rewokyd  be 
F.  108.  b.        For  all  thaire  mycht  or  thare  powste  ; 

For  I  ken  hym  sa  ewyn  a  man, 

That  all  thare  wyt  hym  mend  na  kan." 

Efftyr  that  thus  spak  Teodos, 

Euffyne  past  on  tyll  Ambros,  3760 

And  as  he  pwt  furth  hys  trete", 

Ambros  sayd,  "  Euffyne,  me  thynk  yhe, 

Lyk  a  kene  dog  that  ay  bayis, 

As  thow  me  in  this  thyng  assayis, 

Berkand  agayne  the  majeste". 

Off  mychty  God,  be  thi  trette, 

Set,  as  thow  sayis,  the  empryowre 

Mak  hym  to  cum,  for  his  terroure 

I  sail  wyth-stand,  and  let  that  he 

Wyth-in  the  kyrk  sail  mak  entre.  3770 

Suppos  the  state  off  hys  empyre 

In  tyrandry  he  change  and  ire, 

The  dede  I  sail  thole  wylfully, 

Or  he  me  wyn  wyth  hys  maystry." 


CH.  XL]  OF  SCOTLAND.  395 

Bwffyne  than,  hys  medyatowre, 

Agayne  past  to  the  Empryowre, 

And  all  the  wordis  of  Ambrose, 

He  referryt  till  Teodos, 

That  answeryd  and  sayd  mekly, 

"  To  the  byschope  bodyly,  3780 

I  wyll  pas,  and  here  quhat  he 

Off  my  defawte  wyll  say  to  me." 

All  thus  he  dyd,  bot  noucht  for-thi, 

For  all  hys  gret  senyhowry, 

Wyth-in  the  kyrk  he  durst  noucht  ga, 

Bot  wyth-oute  hys  bad  to  ma 

He  set  hym,  and  for  to  se 

The  byschopys  oportwnyte. 

Syne  quhen  the  byschope  bodyly 

He  saw,  and  haylyssyd  hym  mekly  3790 

That  he  wald  lows  hym  off  hys  syne 

And  bandys  that  he  was  cumbryd  in, 

He  made  hym  stedfast  prayere. 

The  byschope  than  on  this  manere 

Sayd,  "  Thi  presens  certanly 

Is  all  lyk  till  tyrandry : 

Thow  mays  the*  agayne  God  to  wede, 

And  to  supprys  hys  law  in  dede." 

"  Nay,"  he  sayis,  "  on  na  kyn  wys 
Thynk  I  agayne  that  law  to  rys,  3800 

Na  I  thynk  nevyr  for  to  wyrk 
Agayne  the  state  off  Haly  Kyrk ; 
Na  yhit  in  it  to  mak  entre", 
Quhill  yhe  Fadyr  assolyhe  me, 
And  lows  me  off  this  band  off  syne, 
And  cumbyr  that  I  am  fallyn  in, 
And  let  noucht  stek  agayne  me 


396  THE  CKONYKIL  [B.  V. 

The  yhete  off  Hewyn,  that  ay  suld  be 
Oppyn  till  all  man  penytent, 

F.  109.      And  mercys  askys  wyth  gud  intent ;  3810 

For  God  hym-selff  is  tyll  mercy 
Than  till  wengeans  mare  redy. 
This  is  the  sowme  off  my  prayere, 
As  I  am  mekly  cuinmyn  here." 
The  byschape  sayd,  "  Than  quhat  pennans 
Has  thow  yhit  done,  or  repentans, 
For  thi  gret  fell  inyqwyte* ; 
Quhat  medycyne  can  thow  lat  se 
Till  hele  or  till  ras  thame  agayne, 
That  in  [thi]  brethe  thow  gert  be  slayne  ?"       3820 
Mekly  than  the  Empryowre 
Sayd,  wytht  rewerence  and  honowre, 

"  Yhoure  part  is,  Fadyre,  till  injwne 
The  pennans  that  yhe  wald  war  dwne, 
And  teche  the  rycht  way  to  ga : 
Tempyre  yhoure  medycyne  rycht  swa, 
I  oblys  me  for  to  fullfill 
All  yhoure  byddyng  wyth  gud  wyll." 
The  byschopys  hart  in  mare  meknes 
At  thir  wordy s  turnyd  wes,  3830 

And  sayd,  "  Syn  resowne  thine  entent 
Eewlyd  noucht  in  all  jugement, 
Bot  rageand  reche  in  [till]  wodnes 
Held  noucht  ordyr  off  rychtwysnes, 
For  lauch  I  will  now  thow  ger  dyte 
And  wyth  hast  in  lettrys  wryte 
The  sentens  off  ewyne  rychtwysnes, 
Fordo[is]  decretys  off  wodnes, 
Wryte  als  and  for  lauch  alwayis 
Hald  that  full  thretty  dayis,  3840 


CH.  XL]  OF  SCOTLAND.  397 

Sentens  off  dede  or  banysyng 

Be  lialdyn  in  wryte,  but  publyssyng, 

To  byde  jugement  off  resowne 

Wyth  rype  examinatyowne, 

Than  ire  may  be  seysd  welle. 

Ourepassyd  thai  dayis  ilk[a]  dele, 

And  be  lele  lauch  and  lawte* ; 

All  thyng  may  welle  dysponyd  be. 

Swa  sentens  gywyn  lauchfully 

Sail  hald  and  bynd  all  sykyrly,  3850 

And  sentens  gywyn  but  fowrme  off  lawe 

The  juge  may  wyth  swylk  cownsall  hawe, 

That  nowthir  sail  folow  syn  na  schayme 

Na  till  hys  state  sail  fall  defayme, 

Na  be  oure  hasty  jugement 
-         Sail  be  supprysyd  the  innocent." 

The  Empryowre  consaywyd  welle 
All  thir  wordys  ilk[a]  delle, 

And  oblysyd  hym  to  fullfill 

All  thir  statutis  wyth  gud  wyll,  3860 

And  made  welle  hys  confessyowne, 
And  tuk  thare  absolutyowne. 
F.  109.  b.     And  in  the  kyrk  wyth  gude  entent 

He  entryd  and  kyssyde  the  pathement, 

And  bade  standand  wytht-owte  the  qwere, 

Quhare  all  the  comownys  standand  were, 

Herand  the  Mes  thare  all  that  qwhille, 

Quhill  done  and  red  wes  the  Ewangylle, 

And  kepyd  the  tyme  off  Offerand ; 

On  kneys  than  to  the  prestys  hand  3870 

He  mad,  and  stude  styll  in  the  qwere, 

Off  the  Mes  the  lave  tyll  here. 

The  byschape  than  wyth  movyd  wyll 


398  THE  CRONYKIL  [B.  V. 

Askyd  quhy  he  bad  thar  sa  styll, 

Haldand  wyth-in  the  qwere  that  plas, 

That  newyr  to  that  state  ordanyd  was. 

The  Empryowre  sayd  mekly, 

"  For  nakyn  hycht  off  senyhowry 

I  byd  here,  bot  in  gud  entente 

For  to  ressayve  my  sacrament."  3880 

The  byschope  chargyd  till  hym  than 

The  archedene,  a  cwnnand  man, 

That  sayd  till  hym,  "  Schyre  Empryoure, 

To  leve  the  qwere  is  yhoure  honoure ; 

For  the  qwere  all  halyly 

For  prestys  is  ordanyt  specyally, 

And  to  clerkys  on  thare  wys 

To  syng  or  say  thare  thaire  serwys, 

Set  yhoure  aray  off  ryche  purpwre, 

Schawe  yhowe  now  here  Empryowre,  3890 

Yhoure  purpure  may  noucht  preystys  ma, 

Owt  off  the  qwere  I  rede  yhe  ga 

A[nd]  bwte,  amang  the  comwnawte', 

Byd  [thar]  youre  oportunyte" 

Than  to  tak  yhoure  sacrament." 

Than  bwt  he  passyd  wyth  gud  entent 

And  sayd  wyth-owt  rebellatyowne 

In  till  hys  excusatyowne ; 

"  I  wend  that  cwstume  here  had  bene, 

In  Constantynopyll  that  I  have  sene,  3900 

That  in  the  qwere  off  honowre 

Is  a  sted  for  the  Empryowre. 

Bot  leve  [God],"  he  sayd  syne, 

"  This  is  bot  halesum  medycyne 

For  the  [wodnes]  off  my  syne 

That  I  have  lyine  stynkand  in. 


CH.  XL]  OF  SCOTLAND.  399 

And  in  this  mene  tyme  yhe  herd  me  tell, 
Hys  wyff,  that  was  callyd  Dame  Placell, 
A  fayre  lady  and  a  plesand, 

Honest,  abyll,  and  awenand,  3910 

Haly  and  relygyows, 
Dyd  mony  dedys  off  almows. 
Scho  oysyd  to  wysyt  bodyly 
All  powr  [folk]  that  wes  nere  hyr  by, 
F.  no.        In  mete,  or  drynk,  or  clethyng, 
And  in  all  odyr  nedfull  thyng  ; 
Scho  sparyd  noucht  thare  fete  to  weysche, 
Na  yhit  to  sete  thame  fysche  or  fleysche  ; 
Bathe  to  powre,  seke  and  sare, 
Hyr  besynes  scho  wald  noucht  spare,  3920 

Bot  serwyt  thame  wyth  hyr  awyne  handys, 
Lypnand  noucht  till  hyr  serwandys. 
Quhen  scho  [wes]  arguyd  that  that  mycht  be 
Ondone  welle  for  hyr  honeste*, 
Bot  for  [to]  gywe  thame  in  payment 
Swm  thyng  off  mond  wytht  gud  entent ; 
Scho  sayd  swylk  dedys  off  honoure 
Fell  tyll  hyr  lord  the  empryowre, 
Bot  to  sympyll  all  wes  scho, 

Swylk  dedys  as  scho  dyde  to  do.  3930 

Scho  sayd  alsua  tell  hyr  lord, 
"  Yhe  suld  wyth  yhoure-selff  record 
Quhat  yhe  have  bene  and  is  to  be, 
Thare-till  alsua  thynk  suld  yhe 
To  be  kynd  till  yhoure  creature 
That  has  yhow  put  in  that  honure, 
And  hald  the  law ;  swa  sail  yhe  welle 
Yhoure  empyre  gowerne  ilk[a]  delle." 
Betwene  thys  byschope  Ambros 


400  THE  CKONYKIL  [B.  V. 

And  the  empryowre  Teodos  3940 

Wes  made  be  mediatyowne 
Gud  reconsylyatiowne, 
And  be  thame  bath  landys  sere 
Wes  efftyre  done  off  wertu  clere. 
The  dedys  off  this  einpryowre 
Sulde  be,  lordys,  yhoure  merowre, 
To  forbere  inyqwyte', 
And  deme  wyth  lauch  and  lawte*, 
Off  haly  kyrk  bath  lare  and  lawe 
To  bere  and  luve,  and  hald  wyth  awe,  3950 

Wyth  nane  oure  hasty  jugyment 
Set  to  supprys  the  innocent. 
Till  byschope  all  tyme  bowsum  be 
And  prestys  luwe  in  cheryte1, 
Pay  that  yhe  awe  thame  blythly, 
Tak  na  thyng  fra  thame  wrangwysly. 
It  is  a  wnhonest  tohyle 
To  se  the  qwyk  the  dede  dyspoyle, 
Quhen  he  is  wondyn  in  hys  schet, 
The  lyk  it  is  I  teU  yowe  yete,  3960 

Or  than  till  it  it  is  the  neyst, 
A  gentill-man  to  rewe  a  preyst. 
Off  preystys,  at  yhoure  begynyng, 
And  all  yhoure  tyme  till  yhoure  endyng, 
And  efftyre  that  yhe  have  mystyr  ay ; 
Tharefore  wyth  reverens  gret  suld  thai 
F  no.  b.       Be  tretyd  and  led  honesty, 

And  forborne  rycht  gretumly. 

Efftyr  all  this,  this  Empryowre 
Furthyryd  hys  lyff  in  gret  honoure,  3970 

Bathe  pure  and  rych  in  thare  degre 
He  luwyd  and  led  in  honeste ; 


CH.  XL]  OF  SCOTLAND.  401 

Tyrandryis  and  mawmentryis, 

Herrysys  and  Lollardyis, 

He  fordyd,  and  kest  all  downe 

The  tempill  off  thare  devotyowne. 

He  hade  gret  fame  off  gret  powes, 

Off  wertu  he  comendyt  wes, 

In  Melane  syne  he  tuk  hys  dede ; 

Tyll  Constantynopyll  fra  that  stede  3980 

He  wes  translatyd,  and  thare  he  lyis, 

Hys  sawle  in  joy  off  paradys. 


JL  0  the  Pape  Syrycius 

Succedyt  Anastasius, 

And  held  [the]  Papys  se  thre  yhere 

And  sex  and  twenty  dayis  clere. 

This  Pape  ordanyd  in  that  quhille 

The  prestys  or  deknys,  the  Wangylle 

At  the  Mes  war  hard  redand, 

Suld  be  bare-hewyd,  on  fut  standand.  3990 

He  ordanyd  in  hys  tyme  alsua 

Thet  na  clerk  suld  ordyr  ta, 

Off  hys  lymniys  hot  gyff  he 

Ware  hale  wyth-owte  deformyte. 

Than  till  this  Teodosius, 
Archad,  and  Honoryus 
Tuk  till  thame  the  senyhowry 
Of  [al]  the  empyr  halyly, 
And  threttene  yhere  thai  held  that  state. 

A  byschope  that  tyme  callyd  Donate  4000 

Tuk  a  dragowne,  that  fellowne  was, 
And  spyttyt  ewyn  in  till  hys  face ; 
VOL.  i.  2  c 


402  THE  CEONYKIL  OF  SCOTLAND.  [B.  V. 

Wytht  that  he  slw  that  fell  dragowne, 
Ane  wgly  best  and  a  fellowne. 

And  oure  the  Peychtis  in  that  quhylle 
Eegnyd  Golarge-Makainyle. 
Ten  yhere  than  Nectane-Kellamot. 
Thretty  yhere  Drwst-Gortynot. 
Galam  neyst  thame  was  regnand 
Fyftene  wyntyr  in  Scotland.  4010 

Drwst-Gygnowre  wes  fywe  yhere  kyng. 
And  audit  yhere  syne  Drust-Hoddrylyng. 
Syne  the  fyrst  Drwst  yheris  foure. 
Sex  yhere  Garnat-Gygnowre. 
Hys  brodyre  efftyr  Kylturnane, 
Eegnyd  kyng  fywe  yhere  and  ane. 
[Talarg]  syne  Makmordely, ' 
Drwst  neyst  hym  Makmonethy, 
And  Gagalad,  fyftene  yhere 
F.  ill.       Thai  thre  in  Scotland  kyngys  were.  4020 


PRINTED  BY  T.  AND  A.  CONSTABLE,  PRINTERS  TO  HEK  MAJESTV, 
AT  THE  EDINBURGH  UNIVERSITY  PRESS. 


Andrew  of  Wyntoun 

The  orygynale  cronykil  of 
Scotland 


UNIVERSITY  OF  TORONTO  LIBRARY